To increase the share of renewable energy in transport and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport fuels, European and national laws and regulations are common policy instruments. The current system is mainly aimed at road transport and obliges the fuel suppliers of petrol and diesel to mix in an annually increasing share of renewable energy (the annual obligation) and to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the fossil fuels supplied (the reduction obligation). The target for 2030 is currently 14 percent renewable energy for the transport sector in general. The opt-in for ocean shipping causes strong fluctuations in the market.
Until recently, making air and sea transport more sustainable was limited by the international character of these sectors, which have therefore long remained unaffected by European or national policy. Meanwhile, the production of renewable fuels for these sectors is also developing rapidly and it is clear that maritime and aviation must also become more sustainable.
To achieve this, a stable market and incentives are needed. Incentive policies must provide certainty for the long-term use of renewable fuels in aviation and shipping and at the same time be an instrument to further increase the use of renewable fuels in road transport.
New investment will only be attracted by policies that provide long-term security and protect existing and future investments in renewable fuels for all modes of transport. Making transport more sustainable requires a stable and long-term perspective for the physical use of all types of sustainable biofuels, with rules for the individual sectors ensuring that each individual sector makes its contribution.
In road transport, the so-called blending obligations have proven to be a reliable and effective instrument to ensure the growing use of sustainable biofuels. Blending obligations are accompanied by strict sustainability criteria, which have been in place for a long time and have been tightened not so long ago.
Such an obligation can also be effective in other sectors. It is necessary, however, that the individual sectors themselves are responsible for their own sustainability and bear the associated costs. To achieve this, the introduction of separate mandates for road transport, aviation and (sea) shipping is absolutely necessary. The sooner the better. Do not wait for the implementation of the REDIII in 2025, but from 1 January 2024.
Frank Bergmans, policy officer for sustainable development MVO
