A Climate Agreement is on the table. Earlier this week, the government presented a draft Climate Agreement, which includes agreements with the electricity sector, industry, the built environment, the transport sector and agriculture. The following (preliminary) measures have been agreed for the transport and logistics sector.
Purchase subsidy for zero emission trucks or vans
Transport entrepreneurs who purchase an emission-free truck or van in the next few years will receive a subsidy to do so. This is a purchase subsidy of 40 per cent of the additional cost compared to a comparable diesel variant. The exact scheme will be worked out in 2019.
Zero emission zones in large municipalities
The largest municipalities will introduce zero emission zones for new trucks and vans from 2025. The boundaries of these zones will be presented in 2020, giving operators time to prepare. There is a transitional arrangement for existing trucks: non-depreciated euro 6 trucks may be used in the zero emission zones for a few years after 2025.
Excise duty increase on fuel
Excise duty on petrol and diesel to rise 1 cent from 2020 From 2023, excise duty on diesel will go up by another 1 cent.
Chain efficiency
The Climate Accord pays much attention to optimisation of logistics chains. Emissions can be reduced through better loading and planning. According to TLN and evofenedex, involved in the creation of the agreement, cooperation is needed to achieve optimisation in the chain. The Top Sector Logistics will be involved in the sector approach to develop products and services that will encourage companies to make efficiency gains in the logistics chains they are part of.
Kilometre charge for trucks
The much-discussed measure from the coalition agreement is still on the table: road pricing on trucks. From 2023, transport operators will pay per kilometre driven. In the Climate Accord, it was agreed that the net proceeds of this measure will be used to make road transport more sustainable and innovative, for example to encourage non-fossil driving. The revenue can also be used for other sustainable measures in the sector.
TLN and evofenedex positive about Climate Agreement
Both TLN and evofenedex are positive about the preliminary agreement. TLN speaks of a 'nice combination of solid ambition and healthy realism'. Machiel van der Kuijl, general director at evofenedex, said in a statement, "The measures now before us make it possible for trading and manufacturing companies to remain competitive through their logistics and contribute well to solving the climate issue."
The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency is calculating the measures in the near future to investigate whether this will achieve the stated goal of 49 per cent CO2 reduction by 2030. A final Climate Agreement will be signed in spring 2019 at the earliest, TLN expects.
