New EU standard will facilitate comparability and sustainability reporting in business travel
The European Union has reached a historic agreement to harmonize the methodology for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transport sector. The initiative, called CountEmissionsEU, will create a single standard for measuring the carbon footprint, putting an end to the current fragmentation of methods and criteria that made it difficult to compare data between companies and suppliers.
After months of negotiations, the EU institutions have validated this common framework that seeks to simplify reporting, improve transparency and encourage more sustainable decisions in all modes of transport. On a horizon with more than 15 million European flights expected by 2050, the goal is clear: to move towards net zero emissions without compromising the sector's competitiveness.
In the business travel sector, the measure is considered a structuring step, as it will enable travel managers to objectively compare offers and itineraries on the basis of a single calculation method. It will also facilitate the integration of data into corporate systems and compliance with the requirements of the new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
The European BT4Europe Council, which brings together the main national business travel associations, has welcomed the agreement and sees it as a decisive step towards more efficient and responsible mobility. The organization is committed to accompanying the European Commission during the implementation phase to ensure that the new standard is simple, inclusive and operational for all parties involved. In addition, it proposes to extend the scope of the methodology in the future to other areas of corporate travel, such as accommodation and events, in order to provide a global view of the carbon footprint of business travel.
The next steps will focus on the final validation by the co-legislators and on the definition of the commissioning criteria;technical details, including emission factors, calculation periods and articulation with reporting obligations.
In the words of Patrick Diemer, president of BT4Europe, “this agreement shows that Europe can lead by example. By aligning transport emissions standards within the single market, we are not only simplifying compliance, but strengthening Europe's competitiveness and demonstrating that sustainability and economic performance can go hand in hand.