On Thursday 29 August, the EU Member States, represented on the Climate Change Committee, approved an amendment to the Monitoring and Reporting Regulation proposed by the European Commission (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2006) under the Emissions Trading System (ETS) (see EUROPE 13458/17).
These revisions introduce into the EU ETS the zero-rating of emissions from the combustion of renewable fuels of non-biological origin, recycled carbon-based fuels and low-carbon synthetic fuels. This zero-rating applies subject to compliance with the criteria set out in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), in particular the 'additionality' rules, which mean that the electricity used for renewable fuel of non-biological origin must be renewable and additional. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must also be reduced by at least 70% compared with a comparable fossil fuel on a life-cycle basis, ensuring that these emissions are taken into account and that double counting is avoided.
The changes to the rules also cover: - tax exemption for fuels derived from biomass; - detailed monitoring and reporting requirements for alternative aviation fuels; - harmonisation of thresholds applicable to small emitters; - monitoring and reporting requirements for non-CO2 aviation effects per flight.
Read the implementing regulation: https://aeur.eu/f/db3 (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)