Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The Natural and biogas Vehicle Association (NGVA Europe) is actively and negatively engaged with EU climate regulation. It has consistently advocated for the inclusion of natural and renewable gas in both the EU’s heavy-duty vehicle and light-duty vehicle CO2 emissions standards, which would weaken their ambition.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: NGVA Europe appeared to support the EU Green Deal and climate neutrality by 2050 in line with a 1.5o C target in a May 2022 joint letter. NGVA Europe echoed its support for the EU Green Deal in a February 2023 joint statement. In a November 2022 tweet, the association supported the goals of the Paris Agreement. However, December 2022 comments by NGVA Europe’s President Timm Kehler appeared to emphasize competitiveness and energy security concerns with meeting the EU Green Deal.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: In 2022-24, NGVA Europe engaged negatively on EU transport and renewable energy policies, advocating for regulations to include natural gas and biomethane. In a March 2022 consultation response and a May 2022 joint letter the association opposed a 100% CO2 emissions reduction target for heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) in the EU. In a May 2023 consultation response, NGVA Europe supported the EU’s CO2 standards for HDVs with major exceptions, advocating for the inclusion of biomethane in the regulation. NGVA Europe also advocated for the inclusion of a ‘Carbon Correction Factor’ (CCF) in EU CO2 emissions standards for HDVs in a May 2023 joint letter, which would likely weaken the emissions reduction potential of the regulation. Similarly, in a May 2022 joint letter on the EU’s CO2 standards for light-duty vehicles (LDVs), NGVA Europe opposed a 100% CO2 emissions reduction target. It also supported the inclusion of a ‘voluntary crediting system for sustainable renewable fuels’, which would likely weaken the emissions reduction potential of the policy. In a May 2022 position paper on the Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (REDIII), NGVA Europe advocated for a technology neutral approach ensuring a ‘level playing field for all fuels and propulsion systems’.
Positioning on Energy Transition: NGVA Europe engaged negatively on the energy transition in 2022-24, advocating for the continued use of natural gas and biomethane over the full electrification of road transport. NGVA Europe opposed an effective phase-out date of ICE HDVs , advocating for a technology-neutral approach to decarbonization in a March 2022 consultation response. NGVA Europe supported a long-term role for Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) heavy-duty vehicles (HVDs) powered by biomethane in a May 2023 consultation response. Similarly, in a May 2023 press release, NGVA Europe’s President Timm Kehler advocated for the long-term use of biofuels to decarbonize HDVs over complete electrification. Similarly, NGVA Europe opposed the effective phase-out of ICE light-duty vehicles (LDVs) and supported the long-term role for ICE LDVs powered by biomethane over rapid electrification in a May 2022 joint letter. NGVA Europe also advocated for the use of biomethane to decarbonize road transport, and supported investment in infrastructure as a transitional pathway in the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR) on its website, accessed in February 2024.