BSI, in its role as the UK National Standards Body, publishes the first international standard for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions arising from end-to-end, multi-modal transport operations. Crucially, it applies to international freight and passenger services, and covers emissions from the start of a journey - including transfers via transport hubs such as terminals or depots where people or goods change vehicles – to the destination, whether this is domestic or cross-border.
The new international standard on quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions arising from transport chain operations (BS EN ISO 14083) provides the requirements and guidance for the quantification, assignment, allocation and reporting of GHG emissions of transport chains for passengers and freight. It includes an emission calculation framework that enables organizations globally to report on their carbon emissions, something that is increasingly required for annual reporting.
The voluntary standard is intended to help organizations – from multinational corporations operating multiple transport modes to small local operators - to facilitate trade, improve efficiency and manage risk throughout all stages of the transport chain.
The guidance specifies how to source data as an input for the calculation of GHGs, taking into account the significant variations across transport operations. It covers all modes of transport (land, water, and air, irrespective of the means of transport i.e. vessel, vehicle or pipeline) and includes the operational emissions from transport hubs where they facilitate transfer of freight or passengers from one element of a transport chain to the next.
BSI is currently working to support the decarbonisation of transport across the sector in road freight, aviation and maritime industries. This includes supporting the development of low-carbon and zero-emission fuels and technology pathways, such as electrification and hydrogen, as well as emerging sustainable practices.
Sebastiaan Van Dort, Associate Director for Energy at BSI said: "The logistics and transport industry contributes just over a third of global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions worldwide and is a critical part of our economy."
"This standard provides a global, unified, common methodology for the reporting of GHG emissions arising from transport operations while recognising the complexities of multi-modal, end-to-end, passenger and freight transportation. This new standard can help domestic and global freight logistics organizations, along with passenger transport operators, turn action into ambition to help reduce their carbon emissions and ultimately to meet their net-zero targets."
Organizations can download the standard via the BSI shop here.
