Deal on new rules to reduce CO2 emissions from trucks and buses

Delivering on climate ambition and improving EU air quality

Zero-emission urban buses by 2035

Heavy-duty vehicles account for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions from EU road transport

On Thursday, Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on new measures to strengthen CO2 emission reduction targets for new heavy-duty vehicles.

Negotiators agreed on CO2 emissions reduction targets of 45% for the period 2030-2034, 65% for 2035-2039 and 90% as of 2040, applying for large trucks (including vocational vehicles, such as garbage trucks, tippers or concrete mixers as of 2035), and buses. The agreed targets for new urban buses include an emission reduction of 90% by 2030 and zero-emissions by 2035. Emissions reduction targets are also set for trailers (7,5%) and semi-trailers (10%), starting from 2030.

According to the deal, the Commission will make a detailed review on the effectiveness and impact of the regulation by 2027. This review will assess, among others, the expansion of the scope to small lorries, the role of a methodology for registering heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) exclusively running on CO2 neutral fuels, in conformity with EU law and climate neutrality objective and the role of a carbon correction factor in the transition towards zero-emission HDVs.

Quote

Rapporteur Bas Eickhout (Greens/EFA, NL) said: “The transition towards zero-emission trucks and buses is not only key to meeting our climate targets, but also a crucial driver for cleaner air in our cities. We are providing clarity for one of the major manufacturing industries in Europe and a strong incentive to invest in electrification and hydrogen. We are building on the Commission’s proposal by expanding the scope to vocational vehicles and adapting several targets and flexibilities to catch up with reality, as the transition is moving faster than expected."

Next steps

Parliament and Council need to formally approve the agreement before it can enter into force.

Background

On 14 February 2023, the Commission tabled a legislative proposal to set CO2 standards for heavy-duty vehicles from 2030 onwards to help reach the EU's objective for climate neutrality by 2050 and lower the demand for imported fossil fuels. Heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, city buses and long-distance buses, are responsible for more than 25% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road transport in the EU and account for over 6% of total EU GHG emissions.