Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2485 establishing additional technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which certain economic activities qualify as contributing to climate change.

New Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2485 as regards the assessment criteria for economic activities in view of their contribution to the six environmental objectives of the Commission was published in the Official Journal (OJ) of the EU. The delegated regulation modifies Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139, the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act, to specify additional economic activities that may contribute substantially to climate change mitigation and to modify some existing activities in view of changing emission targets in the upcoming years. The purpose of the delegated regulation is to direct investments towards such activities to reach the EU’s goal of becoming carbon emission neutral by 2050.
Specifically, the new 2023 delegated regulation includes the following new activities in Annex I and II of the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act – as quoted:
Annex I referring to technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives
– the manufacture of automotive and mobility components
– the manufacture of rail rolling stock constituents
– the manufacture, installation, and servicing of high, medium and low voltage electrical equipment for electrical transmission and distribution that result in or enable a substantial contribution to climate change mitigation
– the manufacturing of aircraft
– passenger and freight air transport
– air transport ground handling operations
Annex II referring to Technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change adaptation and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives
– desalination
– software enabling physical climate risk management and adaptation
– consultancy for physical climate risk management and adaptation
– emergency services
– flood risk prevention and protection infrastructure
The modifications to existing activities primarily relate to shipping activities. The new delegated regulation also modifies the EU Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act to eliminate inconsistencies and to provide clarity over when certain chemicals qualifying as „essential to the society“ may be considered as contributing substantially to climate change risk mitigation or adaptation.