Emission limits proposed for heavy-duty vehicles

The European Commission has proposed limits to carbon dioxide emissions from new heavy-duty commercial vehicles. So far no such limits have been set on the EU level.

The emission limits would be calculated on the basis of the levels in 2019. By 2025 the emissions from new heavy-duty vehicles should be 15% and by 2030 30% lower than in 2019. 

Without any limits the emissions from heavy-duty vehicles within the EU have been estimated to grow by about 9% between 2020 and 2030.

Emissions divided between sectors

The emission reduction targets of the EU have been divided between the sectors in the Emissions Trading System ETS and the effort sharing sectors. The effort-sharing sectors include greenhouse gas emissions from e.g. transport, agriculture, waste management and heating of individual buildings. Transport emissions represent about 40% of the total emissions of the effort-sharing sector.

The emission reduction target set in the National Energy and Climate Strategy, adopted by the Finnish Government in November 2016, is 50% by 2030 from the 2005 level.

The limits to be introduced in the EU will improve the energy-efficiency of vehicles and support the attainment of the objectives of the national strategy.

In the lobbying efforts Finland has stressed the importance of ambitious limits and setting a mid-term target to 2025.

What next?

The consideration of the emission limits for heavy-duty vehicles continues in the Working Party on the Environment of the Council of the European Union. In the Working Party the Member States are represented by civil servants working in the permanent representations to the EU or dispatched from the Member States. The Working Parties prepare the matters to be decided by the Council.

Inquiries:
Eleonoora Eilittä, Senior Officer, tel. +358 50 309 9189