EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework: new rules to turn greenwashing into genuine removals

(Energy Post, 16 May 2023) The EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework intends to drive forward technological and natural carbon removals, and prevent greenwashing through robust standards and certification procedures.

It’s to deal with the existing poorly monitored carbon removals market: the lack of oversight, transparency, trustworthiness, and genuine climate impact (additionality) of projects and certificates. Simon Göss at carboneer looks at the current proposals, as the EU has tasked an external expert group to develop tailored certification methodologies for different carbon removal activitiesover the coming months.

The new certification schemes will register carbon removal activities, control audits and certificates, maintain public registries, as well as issue the carbon removal units. Göss points at areas that will need particular attention, including identifying those nature-based solutions that could be short-lived, the risks of reversals for each type of solution, who is ultimately (financially) responsible for failure, and the current lack of details on the methodologies for the different removal activities and certification schemes.

What is it and why is it needed?

In December 2021, the EU Commission published its Sustainable Carbon Cycles Communication in which it outlined the EU’s plan to capture and store carbon dioxide from different sources in order to reach climate neutrality by 2050. Core elements are:

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Energy Post, 16 May 2023: EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework: new rules to turn greenwashing into genuine removals