The European Council and European Parliament reached a provisional political agreement that will create the first certification framework for carbon removal technologies.
The EU has been working on implementing its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Net zero means that any remaining CO2 emission must be captured.
EU Proposes New Certification Methods for Carbon Removal
In a press release, the EU explained the significance of the agreement, stating that the regulation will cover permanent carbon removal and emission reduction activities, aligning with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
However, the Council clarified that while the IPCC only covers atmospheric or biogenic carbon removals, the provisional agreement extends its scope.
For example, temporary carbon storage from carbon farming and soil emission reduction activities must last at least five years to receive certification. Additionally, it must not have a negative impact on rural communities.
"By 2026, the Commission is tasked with producing a report on the feasibility of certifying activities that result in the reduction of emissions other than those related to soils (carbon and nitrous oxide)," the press release stated.
EU Pushes Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emission Agenda
Once approved, this regulation will mark the first step in the comprehensive carbon removal and soil emission reduction framework of the EU, aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2025, based on the European climate law.
The EU also explained that the proposal aims to create new income opportunities for industries implementing carbon removal technologies.
The provisional agreement stipulates that carbon removal activities must meet four criteria: quantification, additionality, long-term storage, and sustainability.
"While the EU's priority with regard to climate action is the rapid reduction of GHG emissions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, it will also need to compensate for residual hard-to-abate emissions by scaling up carbon removals from the atmosphere," the Commission explained.
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