On 15.12.2021, the European Commission announces to create a legal framework in a communication on "Sustainable carbon cycles" according to which procedures for natural carbon sequestration and technical CO2 extraction and storage can be certified. By the end of 2022, the European Commission wants to make a legislative proposal. In this short position, the German Environment Agency points to gaps in the European Commission's proposal, refers to essential minimum requirements for the certification of carbon sequestrations and calls for a clearer integration of the certification framework with regard to its steering effect and its steering objective in the climate protection target architecture of the European Union. Quelle: www.umweltbundesamt.de
Robust quantification of carbon dioxide removals (CDR) lies at the heart of any certification mechanism and is central for their functionality and environmental integrity. For the establishment of a Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) that was recently adopted, the EU Commission is currently conducting an inventory of the existing knowledge base. The objective of most certification mechanisms is to turn greenhouse gas emission reductions or removals into tradable commodities. To achieve this, each certificate issued by a mechanism must reliably represent the same amount of greenhouse gas reduced or removed from the atmosphere. The report compares selected standards to work out advantages and disadvantages of existing monitoring methods for an EU certification of carbon removals.
With the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF), adopted in 2024, the EU established a voluntary framework for carbon removal certification, which includes criteria for the certification of removals, rules for the certification process and the recognition of certification schemes. This report discusses the options for how certified removal units may be used and what policy options are available to complement funding for removals besides revenues generated through the CRCF.