The CLEVER consortium hosted a focused webinar to present and discuss the initial goal and scope of its methodology for calculating emission factors in transport and logistics. After a brief introduction by the organisers, the team outlined where the project stands at the halfway mark and set out how the goal–scope choices shape the forthcoming framework and example emission factors. The session also shared early insights from the first Public Consultation and explained how stakeholders can stay involved as the work progresses.
What we covered
The team clarified that CLEVER is developing both a framework for calculating emission factors and a set of demonstration factors. The methodology concentrates on the energy provision up to the point of use (from resource production to fuel or electricity entering the vehicle or battery). By design, hub operations and most tank-to-wheel infrastructure sit outside the project’s boundary, reflecting CLEVER’s role within the broader CountEmissionsEU landscape.
Methodological choices
CLEVER follows an attributional LCA approach aimed at defaults and averages rather than consequential scenarios. The functional unit is gCO₂e per megajoule, with climate impacts assessed via GWP100 (IPCC). As a primary option (and where appropriate), energy-based allocation (lower heating value) is applied. The scope also addresses treatment and definitions for topics such as biogenic carbon, (indirect) land use change, CCS/DAC, and fuel-pathway clustering, with alignment to relevant EU concepts to aid consistency and usability.
Stakeholder input and consultation feedback
Live polling showed a participant mix led by transport/logistics service providers and academia/research, with most respondents reporting beginner–intermediate LCA familiarity. The first Public Consultation drew 50+ contributors via survey and in-document comments. Feedback asked for clearer language, a sharper explanation of the link between goal and boundary (e.g., why hub operations are excluded), and straightforward definitions of key terms such as ILUC. Stakeholders responded positively to CLEVER’s modular breakdown of value-chain stages and encouraged comparisons with other frameworks/standards to improve transparency and interpretation. Across the discussion, there was a recurring request for practical guidance to support users who are not LCA specialists.
Challenges surfaced by participants
Participants highlighted the proliferation of sources and guidelines, the need for transparency in data and calculations, knowledge gaps among users, comparability across methodologies, questions around measuring principles, and the ongoing accuracy vs. usability trade-off that often arises in lifecycle work.
What’s next and how to get involved
The team is finalising the Goal & Scope text by incorporating the first consultation’s feedback and is preparing a draft of the full methodology for the second Public Consultation in the first half of 2026. In parallel, CLEVER will confirm exemplar fuel pathways, ramp up preparations for emission-factor calculations, and roll out training sessions to help future users apply the framework. Stakeholders can join the Expert Forum, subscribe for updates and repository access, and consider the Open Call for Use Cases—applications open soon, close end of January 2026, with coaching starting March 2026.
