Yesterday, the Parliament and the Council of the European Union reached a preliminary agreement on CountEmissionsEU, the proposal to define a single methodology for the calculation of carbon emissions greenhouse gases produced by transport services based on a internationally recognized methodology (UNI EN EN ISO 14083:2023). The new rules envisaged will not oblige companies to transport to calculate its greenhouse gas emissions. However if they choose to do so, for example for reporting purposes, contractual or marketing policies, or when required by other regulations will be required to apply the common EU methodology.

It is envisaged that the fundamental principle underlying the methodology and the counting of emissions from the use of means and the supply of energy during the operations of and, to improve the accuracy of the counting, the agreement prioritizes the use of primary data over predictions or greenhouse gas emission predefined values, providing the incentives to operators who will directly measure the own emissions.

The aim of the new rules is also to facilitate the Comparison of the environmental performance of the different modes across the EU.

To reduce the administrative and financial burden on the companies, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises, the agreement provides for the commitment of the European Commission to develop, by four years, a simple and free public calculation tool, accompanied by an instruction manual. In addition, the Commission, with with the support of the European Environment Agency, will set up two free public databases for emissions data. The larger companies will have to verify their data, while smaller companies will be exempt.

If the agreement recognises that the current methodology does not cover greenhouse gas emissions over the entire life cycle of transport services, it was agreed that, within four years after the entry into force of the new rules, the Commission consider extending the methodology life-cycle emissions, such as those resulting from the production of vehicles, energy production, maintenance, use and end-of-life of the vehicles, once they have been given and progress at international level will allow this.

Following the preliminary agreement, Parliament will soon be able to and the Council will have to formally adopt the regulation that will enter into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the EU.

"The new rules - explained the rapporteur of the Parliament's Transport Committee, Norbert Lins - will make it easier to It is easy for companies to accurately communicate their greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement includes specific incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises to apply the ISO standard without being burdened with excessive administrative burdens. SMEs - has Lins specified - will also have access to a calculation tool free of charge, which will facilitate participation in a better measurement of greenhouse gases, even when they choose to use data Primary. In addition, the life cycle assessment will remain on the table in the near future, demonstrating the development and of the ongoing reflection in this area. This evaluation will further improve the solidity and transparency of emissions calculations as the framework evolves regulatory framework".

"CountEmissionsEU - commented the European Commissioner to Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas - offers the clarity our transport sector needs to increase efficiency and concretely reduce emissions. Using a single methodology and offering tools to companies, We enable informed choices in all ways of transport. This helps travelers, shippers, buyers, and public procurers to take decisions on reduction and supports companies in improving carbon emissions of their operational services".