Carbon Removal Certification

Background

In November 2022, the European Commission proposed an EU certification framework for carbon removals in order to encourage regenerative practices and scale up carbon removals, while maintaining a primary focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming. The framework aims to establish EU rules governing how the climate benefits of carbon removals are measured, validated and verified. The voluntary nature of the framework provides an incentive to create new revenue channels for those interested in conducting carbon removal activities.

Key points:

In the opinion, the EESC:   

• considers that the voluntary certification framework for carbon removals has the potential to incentivise removal efforts by providing clarity and reliability in measuring and verifying climate benefits. However, it considers that more clarity is needed regarding methodologies, use of certificates and their duration, and financing;
• considers that questions regarding the integration of carbon removals in EU policies, their impact on emissions reduction and the risk of greenwashing need to be addressed. The framework must state how different certificates can be used, reflecting expected carbon storage duration and risks of reversal; 
• emphasises the importance of keeping the costs of measuring, reporting and verifying carbon removal activities low. This will ensure that the framework is broadly accessible, future-proof and open to new methodologies as science advances.

The full text of the opinion is available here.  

Additional information

Secion: Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (NAT)

Opinion number: NAT/887

Opinion type: Mandatory

Rapporteur:  Stoyan Tchoukanov (Civil Society Organisations Group - BG)

Reference: [COM(2022) 672 final – 2022/0394 (COD)] 

Date of adoption by section: 09/03/2023

Result of the vote:

Date of adoption in plenary: 26/03/2023

Result of the vote: 159 in favour/ 0 against /2 abstentions . The proposal is currently being discussed by the European Parliament

Contacts