Periodic Reporting for period 1 - CLEVER (Creating Legitimate Emission Factors for Verified GHG Emission Reductions in Transport)
Reporting period: 2024-06-01 to 2025-11-30
Transport is essential for Europe’s economy but remains one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions, making up about a quarter of the EU total. While domestic emissions are gradually declining, those from international aviation and shipping continue to grow. Achieving climate neutrality by 2050 demands major reductions across all transport modes. European strategies such as the Green Deal, the Climate Target Plan and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy aim for a 90% cut in emissions by mid-century. Measures like the Fit for 55 packages, the Renewable Energy Directive, FuelEU Maritime, ReFuelEU Aviation, and the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation support the shift to renewable and low-carbon energy. To measure progress, Europe needs a single, transparent and consistent method for calculating and comparing emissions. Current emission factors, which translate fuel or energy use into greenhouse gas values, vary widely between sources. Many are incomplete, outdated or limited to specific modes and rarely include new fuels such as hydrogen or synthetic alternatives. This lack of harmonisation undermines accurate reporting and reduces confidence in environmental data.
CLEVER tackles this challenge by developing a harmonised, science-based and internationally applicable framework for calculating greenhouse gas emission factors across all modes of passenger and freight transport. Covering the full energy life cycle from production to use, known as Well to Wheel or Well to Wake, the framework will enable fair comparison of fuels and technologies.
CLEVER pursues six key objectives:
1. Build tools and methods to connect European and international stakeholders across the full energy life cycle.
2. Assess the global state of the art on emission factor methodologies, standards and data.
3. Develop a harmonised calculation method with consistent system boundaries and fuel specifications.
4. Create a validated framework and a set of default emission factors for conventional and emerging fuels.
5. Test and demonstrate the framework in industrial applications and provide training for users.
6. Promote the integration of CLEVER results into European and international standards and policies.
This will create a transparent and reliable basis for emission calculation in transport. CLEVER will help policymakers design effective climate measures, support consistent corporate reporting and build trust in environmental information across the transport and logistics sector.
CLEVER tackles this challenge by developing a harmonised, science-based and internationally applicable framework for calculating greenhouse gas emission factors across all modes of passenger and freight transport. Covering the full energy life cycle from production to use, known as Well to Wheel or Well to Wake, the framework will enable fair comparison of fuels and technologies.
CLEVER pursues six key objectives:
1. Build tools and methods to connect European and international stakeholders across the full energy life cycle.
2. Assess the global state of the art on emission factor methodologies, standards and data.
3. Develop a harmonised calculation method with consistent system boundaries and fuel specifications.
4. Create a validated framework and a set of default emission factors for conventional and emerging fuels.
5. Test and demonstrate the framework in industrial applications and provide training for users.
6. Promote the integration of CLEVER results into European and international standards and policies.
This will create a transparent and reliable basis for emission calculation in transport. CLEVER will help policymakers design effective climate measures, support consistent corporate reporting and build trust in environmental information across the transport and logistics sector.
CLEVER has established a strong foundation for a harmonised framework on transport emission factors. The project mapped more than 400 key actors, including research bodies, fuel producers, standardisation and certification organisations and public authorities, to identify those shaping greenhouse gas calculation in transport. This work led to the creation of the CLEVER Expert Forum, a group of 56 specialists from across the transport and energy sectors that provides ongoing review and ensures that the framework meets both scientific and practical needs.
A major result is the CLEVER Repository, an open knowledge platform gathering information on emission factor methodologies, standards, and regulations. It compiles key literature, datasets, and policy documents into a single reference point and hosts the Emission Factor Knowledge Database, which combines findings from more than 40 studies, 25 legislative acts and 20 global initiatives. The analysis highlighted inconsistencies in how emissions are calculated and data gaps for new fuels such as hydrogen, e-fuels and recycled carbon fuels.
Based on these insights, the consortium has defined the methodological structure of the harmonised framework. It sets system boundaries under the Well to Wheel or Well to Wake principle, defines a functional unit based on energy content, and standardises allocation rules for shared production processes. The methodology also covers biogenic carbon, land use change and indirect emissions, ensuring consistent treatment of all energy carriers. These foundations align with ISO 14083 and serve as a key reference for the CountEmissions EU initiative.
CLEVER is now developing the common dataset of harmonised emission factors and user guidance for industry and policy. Reference data are being compiled and tested with stakeholders, with the next steps focusing on validation through industrial case studies and the preparation of training materials to support broad adoption of the methodology in Europe and internationally.
A major result is the CLEVER Repository, an open knowledge platform gathering information on emission factor methodologies, standards, and regulations. It compiles key literature, datasets, and policy documents into a single reference point and hosts the Emission Factor Knowledge Database, which combines findings from more than 40 studies, 25 legislative acts and 20 global initiatives. The analysis highlighted inconsistencies in how emissions are calculated and data gaps for new fuels such as hydrogen, e-fuels and recycled carbon fuels.
Based on these insights, the consortium has defined the methodological structure of the harmonised framework. It sets system boundaries under the Well to Wheel or Well to Wake principle, defines a functional unit based on energy content, and standardises allocation rules for shared production processes. The methodology also covers biogenic carbon, land use change and indirect emissions, ensuring consistent treatment of all energy carriers. These foundations align with ISO 14083 and serve as a key reference for the CountEmissions EU initiative.
CLEVER is now developing the common dataset of harmonised emission factors and user guidance for industry and policy. Reference data are being compiled and tested with stakeholders, with the next steps focusing on validation through industrial case studies and the preparation of training materials to support broad adoption of the methodology in Europe and internationally.
CLEVER goes beyond current approaches by developing a single methodological framework that covers all transport modes and both conventional and emerging fuels. Existing databases often rely on different system boundaries or outdated data, producing results that cannot be compared. CLEVER introduces life cycle thinking and clear, traceable rules for every fuel type and production pathway, including electricity, hydrogen, biofuels, synthetic fuels and recycled carbon fuels.
The project applies a co-creation process that unites experts, policymakers, industry and civil society. Through surveys, interviews and workshops, stakeholders help shape a framework that is both scientifically robust and practical to use. This collaborative approach connects science, policy and business, strengthening confidence and encouraging early implementation.
Once finalised, CLEVER will provide a validated calculation framework, a harmonised set of emission factors and practical user guidance supported by online training. These results will make emission accounting consistent and comparable across all transport modes and fuels, improving the quality of climate reporting. They will also form a foundation for future revisions of international standards and national methodologies. Industrial case studies and training programmes will promote long-term use and help organisations apply the framework in everyday practice.
The project applies a co-creation process that unites experts, policymakers, industry and civil society. Through surveys, interviews and workshops, stakeholders help shape a framework that is both scientifically robust and practical to use. This collaborative approach connects science, policy and business, strengthening confidence and encouraging early implementation.
Once finalised, CLEVER will provide a validated calculation framework, a harmonised set of emission factors and practical user guidance supported by online training. These results will make emission accounting consistent and comparable across all transport modes and fuels, improving the quality of climate reporting. They will also form a foundation for future revisions of international standards and national methodologies. Industrial case studies and training programmes will promote long-term use and help organisations apply the framework in everyday practice.