EU sets world’s first voluntary standard for permanent carbon removals
Today, the European Commission adopted the first set of methodologies under the carbon removals and carbon farming (CRCF) Regulation to certify activities that permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
By adopting these first voluntary certification methodologies, the EU is setting clear rules and creating new opportunities for climate innovation, investments in carbon removal technologies and addressing greenwashing. This milestone positions the EU as a global leader in carbon removals. It provides clarity for companies and investors and helps to create an emerging market for both innovative start-ups and a major EU bioeconomy while supporting the EU’s objective of becoming climate-neutral by 2050.
Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, Wopke Hoekstra, said: “The European Union is taking decisive action to lead the global effort in carbon removals. By establishing clear, robust voluntary standards, we are not only fostering responsible and climate action within Europe but also setting a global benchmark for others to follow. This a vital step toward achieving our climate neutrality targets and ensuring a sustainable future.”
The new rules cover three types of permanent carbon removal activities: direct air capture with carbon storage, biogenic emissions capture with carbon storage and biochar carbon removal. With the certification framework and the governance rules now in place, carbon removal projects using these activities can start applying for EU certification. This will allow the first projects to be certified and recognised under the EU’s carbon removal framework in the coming months.
The delegated Regulation will now be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for a scrutiny period, after which, in the absence of objections, it will enter into force.
