EU Proposes Regulation for Environmental Data Collection

On 13 March 2024, the European Union took a significant step towards improving environmental transparency by advancing a proposal for a new regulation on environmental data collection. Entitled "Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on reporting of environmental data from industrial installations and establishing and Industrial Emissions Portal" it sets out rules for the collection and sharing of environmental data from industrial installations.

Key to this legislation is the creation of an Industrial Emissions Portal, a publicly accessible online database. In line with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Protocol on Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers, the Regulation aims to increase public participation in environmental decision-making and to combat industrial pollution through improved monitoring.

The Industrial Emissions Portal

In line with the Commission's aim to improve environmental reporting, a new Industrial Emissions Portal has been developed to replace the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register. This initiative, supported by the European Environment Agency, aims to provide the public with free online access to a comprehensive dataset on the environmental impact of industrial installations.

The Portal will provide integrated data, allowing easy comparison and informed decision-making on environmental issues. It will encourage better performance, track trends, and demonstrate progress in reducing pollution. Users will be able to access both aggregated and non-aggregated data, allowing for targeted searches and easy extraction for analysis.

Reporting Requirements

Under the proposed Industrial Emissions Portal, reporting will be required at the installation level to align with the reporting standards under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED). Operators of industrial installations will be required to submit annual data not only on releases and transfers, but also on resource use (water, energy and raw materials).

This comprehensive reporting will make it possible to track progress in resource efficiency. Additionally, operators will have to provide contextual information such as annual production volume, number of employees, operating hours, and details of accidents resulting in releases. They must also indicate whether the facility is covered by other relevant EU legislation, such as the IED, the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, the Seveso III Directive and the Emission Trading System (ETS) Directive. These measures ensure robust and transparent reporting, promoting accountability and informed decision-making in environmental management.