Assessing progress towards implementation of the ILUC Directive

In 2012 the European Commission proposed Directive 2015/1513 amending the Renewable Energy Directive and the Fuel Quality Directive to address indirect land-use change (ILUC). Directive 2015/1513 has been adopted by the Council and Parliament, and was published on 9 September 2015. Member States are obliged to transpose the Directive into national legislation by 10 September 2017 and should establish the level of their national indicative sub-targets for advanced biofuels by 6 April 2017.

The FQD Implementing Directive (Directive 2015/652) prescribing the methodology to be used for calculating upstream emission reductions in the context of the FQD target was published on 20 April 2015, paving the way for Member States to further implement and enforce the FQD reduction target at the national level.

Depending on their implementation at the national level, these policies could have a significant beneficial impact on the development of transport GHG emissions. The International Council on Clean Transportation therefore commissioned CE Delft to conduct an inventory of the current status of Member States’ plans and intentions regarding implementation of key elements of both Directives. This document reports the results of that inventory.

In general, Member States remain where they were at the start of their decision making processes in April 2015. The main reason for the lack of progress is clearly the relatively short time period since the ILUC Directive was passed. Another reason is that Member States have a number of choices to make, which will take time to assess and decide on. Most Member States aim to take decisions on implementation of the ILUC Directive and the FQD Implementing Directive in parallel. Significant differences between Member States are anticipated regarding national implementation choices, which may further decrease the level of harmonisation.

ICCT staff contact: Chris Malins