Greenhouse gas emissions from transport in Europe

Indicator definition

Total greenhouse gas emissions from transport, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O), are analysed in this indicator. Emissions are split into road transport, railways, domestic navigation, domestic aviation, international aviation and maritime transport.

Units

In accordance with United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) rules, the global warming potential values used in this indicator are those taken from IPCC AR2 for the pre-2015 period and those taken from IPCC AR4 for the post-2015 period. The data have been weighted according to the following global warming potentials for each greenhouse gas to give total emissions in million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (Mt CO₂e): 

• Pre-2015: CO₂ = 1, CH₄ = 21, N₂O = 310;
• Post-2015: CO₂ = 1, CH₄ = 25, N₂O = 298.

Policy context and targets

Context description

There are no specific greenhouse gas emission reduction targets foreseen for the transport sector under the Kyoto Protocol. However, there are several European policies and strategies (see below) that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport. From 1 January 2012, air transport has been included in the EU Emissions Trading System. However, in order to allow time for negotiations on a global, market-based measure that can be applied to aviation emissions, only emissions from flights within the European Economic Area currently fall under the EU system.

Targets

The EU's overall goal, set out in the 2011 White Paper for Transport, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport (including international aviation but excluding international shipping) by 2050 to a level that is 60 % below that of 1990. This includes the intermediate goal for 2030 of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport by 20 % compared with 2008 levels. This is equivalent to an +8 % increase compared with 1990 levels. Similarly, emissions from international shipping are to be reduced by 40 % from 2005 levels by 2050. These overall transport targets are monitored annually and are in line with the economy-wide targets of a 20 % reduction in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 from 1990 levels and a 40 % reduction by 2030. Other transport policies that support the achievement of these targets, such as the various regulations that set CO₂ emission targets for new passenger cars and vans, are also monitored in the Transport and Environment Reporting Mechanism (TERM).

As the transport sector is not included in the Emissions Trading Scheme, it is the responsibility of Member States to reduce transport emissions through national policies in order to reach their national Effort Sharing targets (which cover sectors such as transport, buildings, agriculture, waste, etc.). These Effort Sharing targets are equivalent to a 10 % reduction compared with 2005 levels by 2020, and a 30 % reduction by 2030.

Related policy documents

• 2014 greenhouse gas emissions covered by Decision 406/2009/EC (the ESD)
  The Effort Sharing Decision establishes binding annual greenhouse gas emission targets for Member States for the period 2013–2020. These targets concern emissions from most sectors not included in the EU Emissions Trading System ( EU ETS ), such as transport (except aviation and international maritime shipping), buildings, agriculture and waste. The Effort Sharing Decision forms part of a set of policies and measures on climate change and energy – known as the  climate and energy package  - that will help move Europe towards a low-carbon economy and increase its energy security.
• COM(2011) 144 Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system
  PREPARING THE EUROPEAN TRANSPORT AREA FOR THE FUTURE
• COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 166/2005
  COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 166/2005 of 31 January 2005 fixing the rates of the refunds applicable to certain cereal and rice products exported in the form of goods not covered by Annex I to the Treaty
• DIRECTIVE 1999/62/EC
  DIRECTIVE 1999/62/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 17 June 1999 on the charging of heavy goods vehicles for the use of certain infrastructures
• Directive 2003/30/EC, use of biofuels and renewable fuels
  Promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport. Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport.
• DIRECTIVE 2004/49/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2004/49/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 April 2004 on safety on the Community’s railways and amending Council Directive 95/18/EC on the licensing of railway undertakings and Directive 2001/14/EC on the allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure and safety certification
• DIRECTIVE 2004/50/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2004/50/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 April 2004 amending Council Directive 96/48/EC on the interoperability of the trans-European high-speed rail system and Directive 2001/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the interoperability of the trans-European conventional rail system
• Directive 2006/40/EC
  Directive 2006/40/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 relating to emissions from air-conditioning systems in motor vehicles and amending Council Directive 70/156/EEC
• DIRECTIVE 2007/58/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2007/58/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 23 October 2007 amending Council Directive 91/440/EEC on the development of the Community’s railways and Directive 2001/14/EC on the allocation of railway infrastructure capacity and the levying of charges for the use of railway infrastructure
• DIRECTIVE 2008/101/EC
  DIRECTIVE 2008/101/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 19 November 2008 amending Directive 2003/87/EC so as to include aviation activities in the scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community
• Greenhouse gas monitoring mechanism Decision
  Decision No 280/2004/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 February 2004 concerning a mechanism for monitoring Community greenhouse gas emissions and for implementing the Kyoto Protocol
• Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
  Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; adopted at COP3 in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997
• Monitoring Mechanism Regulation 525/2013
  REGULATION (EU) No 525/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 May 2013 on a mechanism for monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions and for reporting other information at national and Union level relevant to climate change and repealing Decision No 280/2004/EC
• Transport White paper 2011
  Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area - Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system

Methodology

Methodology for indicator calculation

The annual official data submission is made by the EU Member States to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the EU Monitoring Mechanism Regulation (MMR). The compilation of emission estimates by Member States is based on a combination of sectoral activity data, calorific values and carbon emission factors. Recommended methodologies for the estimation of emission data are compiled in the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, supplemented by the ‘Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse gas Inventories’ and UNFCCC Guidelines.

Methodology for gap filling

This indicator is based on information reported by Member States under the Monitoring Mechanism Regulation (MMR). However, should a Member State not submit the data required to compile the EU inventory, the European Commission shall prepare estimates to complete the Member States' greenhouse gas inventories in consultation and close cooperation with the Member States in question. In this case, the Member State shall use the gap-filled inventory in its official submission to the UNFCCC. The basis of this gap-filling process is described in the Commission Delegated Regulation of 12.03.2014 (http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/g-gas/monitoring/docs/c_2014_1539_en.pdf )

Methodology references

• 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories The 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories are the latest step in the IPCC development of inventory guidelines for national estimates of GHGs. These 2006 Guidelines build on the previous Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines and the subsequent Good Practice reports. They include new sources and gases as well as updates to the previously published methods whenever scientific and technical knowledge have improved since the previous guidelines were issued. From 2015, UNFCCC Parties will have to use the 2006 IPCC Guidelines' methodologies and reporting formats when preparing their inventories, in line with the UNFCCC reporting guidelines (Decision 24/CP.19).
• Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories This report on Good Practice Guidance and Uncertainty Management in National Greenhouse Gas Inventories is the response to the request from the UNFCCC for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to complete its work on uncertainty and prepare a report on good practice in inventory management.
• UNFCCC reporting guidelines on annual inventories This document contains the complete updated UNFCCC reporting guidelines on annual inventories for all inventory sectors. It aims to assist Annex I Parties in meeting their commitments under the Convention and in preparing to meet their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

Uncertainties

Methodology uncertainty

Please refer to the Methodology uncertainty section of the Total greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections indicator (CSI 010/CLIM 050).

Data sets uncertainty

Please refer to the Data sets uncertainty section of the Total greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections indicator (CSI 010/CLIM 050).

Rationale uncertainty

Please refer to the Rationale uncertainty section of the Total greenhouse gas emissions trends and projections indicator (CSI 010/CLIM 050).