Monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport

PURPOSE: to provide for rules on monitoring, reporting and verification that are necessary to extend the EU ETS to maritime transport activities and to provide for the monitoring, reporting and verification of other greenhouse gas emissions and emissions from additional ship types.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) 2023/957 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2015/757 in order to provide for the inclusion of maritime transport activities in the EU Emissions Trading System and for the monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions of additional greenhouse gases and emissions from additional ship types.

CONTENT: the amendments to Regulation (EU) 2015/757 on the monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport (MRV) aim to provide rules for monitoring, reporting and verification that are necessary to extend the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) to maritime transport activities and to provide for the monitoring, reporting and verification of other greenhouse gas emissions and emissions from other ship types.

The amended Regulation lays down rules for the accurate monitoring, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions and of other relevant information from ships arriving at, within or departing from ports under the jurisdiction of a Member State, in order to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from maritime transport in a cost-effective manner.

Scope of application

The Regulation will apply to ships of 5 000 gross tonnage or more.

From 1 January 2025, the Regulation will apply to:

- general cargo ships below 5 000 but not less than 400 gross tonnage and ocean-going vessels of less than 5 000 but not less than 400 gross tonnage;

- off-shore ships with a gross tonnage of 5 000 and above.

Greenhouse gases covered

The greenhouse gases covered by this Regulation are:

- carbon dioxide (CO2);

- with regard to emissions released from 2024 onwards, methane (CH4); and nitrous oxide (N2O).

Reporting of emissions data

Regulation (EU) 2015/757 is amended to require companies to report aggregated emissions data at company level and to submit this data to the responsible authority, as well as to submit their verified monitoring plans for approval by that authority.

The Commission will assess every two years the overall impact of maritime transport activities on the global climate, including through emissions or effects of greenhouse gases other than CO2 and particulates with a global warming potential not covered by this Regulation.

Review

The Commission will, no later than 31 December 2024, review the Regulation, inter alia to include ships of less than 5000 but not less than 400 gross tonnage within the scope of the Regulation with a view to the possible subsequent inclusion of such ships within the scope of Directive 2003/87/EC or to propose other measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from such ships. The review will be accompanied, if appropriate, by a legislative proposal.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 5.6.2023.