On February 20, 2024, the European Commission announced that a provisional agreement had been reached between the European Parliament and the EU Council on the establishment of an EU-wide carbon dioxide removal certification system. Its introduction is intended to create new opportunities for farmers.
An idea for removing carbon dioxide
As you know, the established climate goal for the European Union is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 and the so-called net zero emissions, i.e. balancing the level of greenhouse gas emissions and absorption.
One way to achieve this goal would be introduction an EU-wide, voluntary certification system for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. On November 30, 2022, the European Commission published a draft regulation on the creation of such a certification framework.
Establishing such a system, controlled at the EU level, would reduce the risk of greenwashing and meet several basic criteria:
- measurability: CO removal2 it must be possible to measure accurately;
- additionality: CO removal2 must go beyond existing practices and legal requirements;
- long-term storage: CO removal2 from the atmosphere for the long term;
- Sustainability: CO removal2 it must contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals, such as adaptation to climate change and conservation of biodiversity.
EU carbon certificates and agriculture
The EU CO2 removal certification system would refer to activities in the field of:
- storing carbon dioxide in durable products, e.g. wood-based building materials and biochar;
- industrial removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, e.g. using BECCS technology (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage) or DACCS (direct capture and storage of carbon dioxide from the air);
- and carbon farming.
As the EU authorities point out, farmers who want to voluntarily join this system and work, among others, on reducing emissions related to soil cultivation, more efficient use of fertilizers, re-irrigation of peat bogs or restoring forests and soils – will become part of new business models.
According to the system’s designers, obtaining a certificate by a farmer opens the way to obtaining financing from private and public sources, e.g. through the Common Agricultural Policy or the Horizon Europe program.
What’s new on this matter?
As we reported on the farmer.pl website, on November 21, 2023, the European Parliament adopted its position on this matter and amendments to the regulation were approved by a majority of votes. The most interesting provisions of the project are presented in the text below:
On February 20, 2024, the European Commission announced in a press release that a preliminary agreement was reached between the European Parliament and the EU Council on the establishment of an EU-wide carbon dioxide removal certification system. After formal approval of the agreement, the regulations will come into force and “EU carbon certificates” will start in full swing.
– Our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the future will increasingly depend on technology and innovation, and on making the best use of natural carbon sinks. Developing appropriate certification for carbon removal technologies and regenerative agriculture is key to encouraging and rewarding new practices. Today’s agreement sets us on the path to establishing high-quality carbon dioxide removal activities across Europe, commented Maroš Šefčovič, Executive Vice-President for the European Green Deal, Inter-institutional Relations and Foresight, on today’s agreement.
– Carbon removal and carbon farming will be an important part of our efforts to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. With a new voluntary European carbon removal and carbon farming certification framework, we will unlock new economic opportunities for farmers, foresters, construction and innovators. It is vital that we work with all stakeholders towards a more sustainable future where innovation is consistent with environmental responsibility. Together we can create an innovative business environment for investing in and implementing high-quality carbon dioxide removal, said Wopke Hoekstra, EU Commissioner for Climate Action.
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