Indicator Specification
Energy efficiency and specific CO2 emissions
Rationale
Justification for indicator selection
Transport is responsible for almost one third of final energy consumption (see Eurostat energy statistics) and around one quarter of total CO2 emissions (see TERM 02 - Transport emissions of greenhouse gases). Energy efficiency improvements in transport can, therefore, result in considerable reductions in energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
The average energy efficiency of passenger and freight transport is determined by the fleet composition (number and type of vehicles), vehicle utilisation (occupancy rates and load factors) and driving characteristics (speeds, distances).
In the case of freight transport, energy use per tonne-kilometre also depends on the characteristics of the goods transported (e.g. weight and volume of goods). Thus, differences in the goods transported can result in differences in energy efficiency, expressed as energy use per tonne-kilometre.
This indicator has been selected to monitor the energy efficiency of the various passenger and freight transport modes. It enables the evaluation of related policies and the targets set at the national and international levels.
Scientific references
- No rationale references available
Indicator definition
Specific CO2 emissions are defined as emissions of CO2 per transport unit (passenger-km or tonne-km), specified by mode (road, rail, inland, maritime, air).
CO2 emissions from new passengers cars are expressed in grams of CO2 per km (g CO2/km). The data, which are experimental, are measured in the vehicle type approval procedure.
Units
For passenger transport, specific CO2 emissions are expressed in g per passenger-kilometre (g/pkm).
For freight transport, specific CO2 emissions are expressed in g per tonne-kilometre (g/tkm).
For new passenger cars, tailpipe emissions are expressed in g per kilometre (g/km).
Policy context and targets
Context description
Since specific CO2 emissions are expressed per transport unit, occupancy rates and load factors have a considerable effect on specific emissions produced from passenger and freight transport respectively. Reductions of specific emissions can be achieved by increasing occupancy rates and load factors and/or by decreasing emissions per vehicle-km (e.g. by setting stricter emission standards and introducing more energy efficient technologies such as hybrid, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles, etc).
Targets
There are no specific objectives or targets related to energy efficiency or specific CO2 emissions. Policy objectives are only set with respect to the CO2 emissions of passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. Regulation No 443/2009 specifies that each vehicle manufacturer must achieve a fleet-average CO2 emission target of 130 g/km by 2015 for all new cars registered in the EU. In order to meet the CO2 emission target of 120 g/km, additional measures, such as the use of biofuels, aim to further reduce emissions by of 10 g/km. The Regulation also defines a long-term target of 95 g/km to be reached after 2020.
The Vans Regulation No 510/2011 specifies a fleet-average CO2 emission target of 175 g/km to be phased in between 2014 and 2017 for newly registered vans in the EU. A long-term target of 147 g/km is specified for 2020.
As an additional incentive for the introduction of more energy efficient technologies (hybrid, plug-in hybrids, electric vehicles, electric vehicles with a range extender), vehicles with CO2 emissions below 50 g/km receive super-credits. For passenger cars, each such vehicle is counted as 3.5 cars in 2012 and 2013, 2.5 cars in 2014, 1.5 cars in 2015 and 1 car from 2016 onwards. For vans, each vehicle with CO2 emissions below 50 g/km is counted as 3.5 cars in 2014 and 2015, 2.5 cars in 2016, 1.5 cars in 2017, and 1 car from 2018 onwards.
Related policy documents
No related policy documents have been specified
Methodology
Methodology for indicator calculation
For passenger transport, specific emissions are calculated by dividing the CO2 emissions of each mode (i.e. road, rail, maritime and air transport) by the respective passenger-kilometres.
For freight transport, specific emissions are calculated by dividing the CO2 emissions of each mode (i.e. road, rail, inland shipping and maritime transport) by the respective tonne-kilometres.
For CO2 emissions from new passenger cars, data are compiled from DG-CLIMA monitoring 2000-2009, and from the EEA from 2010.
Methodology for gap filling
Passenger- and tonne-kilometres and CO2 emissions are modelled and therefore no gap filling is necessary.
Methodology references
No methodology references available.
Data specifications
EEA data references
- Monitoring of CO2 emissions from passenger cars – Regulation 443/2009 provided by Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG-CLIMA)
External data references
- CO2 emissions and activity from rail (passenger and freight) transport
- Railway transport measurement
- EC4MACS model
Data sources in latest figures
Uncertainties
Methodology uncertainty
COPERT 4 is used for emissions calculations in EC4MACS. CO2 emissions are consistent with UNFCCC submissions.
Data sets uncertainty
Since the data on CO2 emissions, passenger-km and tonne-km are modelled rather than measured, the data must be treated as estimates. Data on CO2 emissions are less uncertain, as they are calibrated against statistical fuel consumption. Hence, the uncertainty of the passenger-km and tonne-km data characterises the overall uncertainty of the indicator. EC4MACS is not so accurate for calculating vehicle and tonne kilometres. This means that the overall uncertainty of passenger-km and tonne-km (as a modelled output) depends on the uncertainty of the underlying statistical data provided as input to the model. The latter may vary significantly among different countries, depending on the way data are collected and reported.
Rationale uncertainty
N/A
Further work
Short term work
Work specified here requires to be completed within 1 year from now.
Long term work
Work specified here will require more than 1 year (from now) to be completed.
General metadata
Responsibility and ownership
EEA Contact Info
Diana IncieneOwnership
Identification
Frequency of updates
Classification
DPSIR: PressureTypology: Descriptive indicator (Type A - What is happening to the environment and to humans?)
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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/indicators/energy-efficiency-and-specific-co2-emissions or scan the QR code.
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