Negotiators representing the European Parliament and EU member states have reached a provisional agreement on establishing a certification framework for carbon removal within the EU. The framework aims to incentivize carbon removal activities, including those in agriculture and sets minimum sustainability standards.
Under the new rules, farmers will be eligible to receive payments for carbon removal efforts, and activities such as carbon farming will be subject to sustainability criteria. The framework’s scope extends to various carbon removal methods, including industrial technology, long-lasting product storage, and agricultural soil management.
Key provisions include defining permanent carbon removal as storing carbon for at least 35 years and requiring carbon farming activities to continue for a minimum of five years. Additionally, the agreement emphasizes the contribution of carbon removals and emissions reductions to achieving the EU’s commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.
The European Commission is tasked with establishing an EU registry for carbon removals and soil emissions reductions within four years of the regulation’s enactment.
While some industry groups, like the European waste-to-energy association Eswet, welcomed the recognition of biogenic permanent carbon removal, others, such as Carbon Market Watch (CMW), expressed concerns.
CMW cautioned against the risk of double-counting carbon removal units, which could occur both in voluntary markets and as part of EU climate policies. The organization also criticized the framework’s lenient sustainability criteria for biomass, potentially leading to increased demand.
Despite some positive aspects, including biodiversity conditions for carbon farming, CMW urged parliament and member states to reject the regulation. They argued that the framework’s units should be ineligible for use under certain international schemes to prevent slowing down decarbonization efforts.
The agreement is pending formal adoption by the European Parliament and member states, with the possibility of implementation before the upcoming EU elections in June.
