BRUSSELS — The European Parliament voted today to adopt landmark new CO2 truck emissions regulations—a move that will accelerate the global zero-emission truck sector, support well-paying jobs and grow Europe’s industrial competitiveness while also supporting a healthier climate and cleaner air. The Council is expected to vote on the trilogue agreement on 22 April. If it passes this last step, the regulation will be checked by lawyers, translated, and become law 20 days after its publication in the EU official journal. In advance of the vote, top transport, shipping and other companies including DHL Group, Nestlé, IKEA, Milence, ChargePoint, and many others called on the EU to adopt new regulations that would result in a 90% reduction in emissions from new trucks by the year 2040. The new regulation will impact trucks and coaches weighing more than 7.5 tons. 

In a joint letter made public in advance of the vote, the companies wrote, “This deal is a landmark agreement that will reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector and contribute to Europe’s industrial competitiveness, economic prosperity and climate-neutral future.” Read the full letter and list of business signatories here. 

Many of the companies that back the EU regulation have already committed to more ambitious CO2 reduction targets to transform their own fleets due to the related operational, economic, jobs, climate and competitiveness benefits. The companies note that a strong policy signal from the EU will help rapidly increase the number of zero-emission trucks available on the market, while also bringing down technology costs and vehicle prices, putting their goals within comfortable reach.  

In addition to their individual company electrification goals, several of the law’s backers are endorsers of the Global Memorandum of Understanding on Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (Global MOU), the most ambitious cross-continent effort ever enacted to lower transport emissions and accelerate the zero-emission truck and bus sector.  Co-led by CALSTART’s Drive to Zero and the government of the Netherlands, the Global MOU calls for 100% new zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicle sales by 2040 at the latest, with an interim goal of at least 30% new sales by 2030. Thirty-three countries, including 10 EU Member States  (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Portugal) are Global MOU signatory countries. Global MOU countries, which also include the United States, Canada, Turkey, Chile and many others, now represent roughly 21 percent of the medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sales market globally.

“Heavy-duty vehicles cause more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions from road transport in Europe. In addition to climate concerns, diesel trucks are a significant source of particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, which caused more than 4.1 million deaths worldwide,” said Sita Holtslag, Europe Director, CALSTART/Drive to Zero. “The proposed regulation dovetails with the strong ambition established by the Global MOU and will deliver climate, clean air, economic, job and operational benefits.”

Contact Stephanie Kodish: [email protected]