When does ETS2 start for diesel? The 2028 delay explained

ETS2, the EU carbon price on road transport and building fuels, now starts in 2028 instead of 2027. Fuel suppliers surrender the allowances, with the first surrender due by 2029-05-31, so hauliers feel it if suppliers pass the cost into the diesel price. Monitoring and reporting have run since 2025.

When does ETS2 start for diesel?

ETS2 starts in 2028 for diesel. According to the European Commission ETS2 page (updated 2026-09-02), ETS2 becomes fully operational in 2028. Allowances are surrendered by 31 May of the following year, which puts the first surrender at 2029-05-31.

The regulated parties are fuel suppliers. They monitor emissions, report them and hand in allowances. A haulier pays only if a supplier passes that cost on in the pump price. Suppliers needed ETS2 permits by 2025-01-01 and have reported emissions since 2025, so the delay did not pause that work. For the full mechanics, read our explainer on the ETS2 carbon price for road freight .

Why was ETS2 delayed from 2027 to 2028?

The one-year delay is part of the amended European Climate Law, the same legal package that sets the 2040 target of a 90% emissions cut. Council and Parliament negotiators reached a provisional deal in December 2025. Parliament voted on 2026-02-09, and the Council gave final approval on 2026-03-05. The Council press release from that day states that ETS2 moves from 2027 to 2028.

ETS2 itself was created by Directive (EU) 2023/959 and was originally planned for 2027. Germany already applies a national CO2 price on fuels (BEHG). A 2026 amendment keeps the 2027 national price in a EUR 55 to 65 per tonne corridor (OSW analysis, 2026-10-22), and the national system bridges to ETS2 in 2028. Hauliers pricing 2027 contracts should expect no EU-wide ETS2 charge on diesel that year. The end of METSAF fuel aid on 2026-12-31 is a separate 2027 cost question, covered in our post on EU diesel in 2027 after METSAF aid expires .

How much could ETS2 add per litre of diesel?

At a carbon price of EUR 45 per tonne, ETS2 could add about 11.9 cent per litre of diesel before VAT if fully passed on. This is a Logifie calculation, not an official estimate. It uses roughly 2.64 kg of CO2 per litre of fossil diesel: 45 x 0.00264 = 0.1188 EUR. No official per-litre figure has been published, and the actual allowance price in 2028 may differ.

The EUR 45 level (in 2020 prices) matters for another reason. The Commission page says extra allowances may be released from the Market Stability Reserve if prices exceed it. That makes it a release trigger, not a price cap. On 2026-06-11, Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement to strengthen that reserve . Reserve allowances stay valid beyond 2030, releases come earlier and in smaller steps, and the number released doubles once the trigger is crossed.

Frequently asked questions

Is ETS2 delayed to 2028 for sure?

The 2028 start is in the amended European Climate Law, which Parliament voted on 2026-02-09 and the Council approved on 2026-03-05. The Commission ETS2 page also states that the system becomes fully operational in 2028.

Do carriers pay ETS2 directly?

No. Fuel suppliers are the regulated entities and surrender the allowances. A carrier is affected only when the supplier includes the cost in the diesel price.

Did the delay change ETS2 monitoring and reporting?

No. Fuel suppliers have monitored and reported emissions since 2025, and that obligation continues unchanged.

Will diesel prices rise in 2028 because of ETS2?

They can, if suppliers pass the allowance cost on. At EUR 45 per tonne the added cost is about 11.9 cent per litre before VAT, based on our calculation above. The real figure depends on the allowance price and on how suppliers set pump prices.

Compare current diesel averages before you set 2027 fuel clauses: track diesel prices by country , using weekly EU Weekly Oil Bulletin averages.