Commission Proposal for an EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework

Publication: Fact Sheet
Citation: Meyer-Ohlendorf, Nils and Anne Siemons 2023: Commission Proposal for an EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework – Is the proposed delegation of power in line with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU? Dessau-Roßlau: German Environment Agency.

In cooperation with the Oeko-Institut, the Ecologic Institute assessed whether the Commission's proposal on a Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) is compatible with the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The paper is published as a fact sheet by the German Environment Agency. It argues that the CRCF violates Article 290 of the Treaty, as it would delegate essential elements of the Regulation to the Commission. The legislative process can address this problem.

Fact sheet by the German Environment Agency: Does the CRCF violate the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU?

The EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework

Options for using certified removal units and funding mitigation activities

Year 2024

Event:Digital Event

The negotiations of the Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF) have put EU climate policies at a critical juncture. These negotiations raise some essential questions concerning the further development of EU climate policy.

Carbon Removals in EU Climate Policies

How to Use Carbon Removal Certificates?

28 February 2024
Online

Publication:Fact Sheet

The Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) proposal of the European Commission and the proposed amendments by Council and European Parliament include minimum sustainability criteria for carbon removals. These criteria are vague and require specification. A new paper by Oeko-Institut and Ecologic Institute examines the sustainability criteria in detail. The German Environment Agency published the paper.

Sustainability Criteria for Carbon Dioxide Removals

Year 2023

Publication:Report

On 30 November 2022, the Commission proposed an EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF). The Commission's proposal is an important initiative for promoting the implementation of carbon removals within the EU. It aims to help generate additional funding for removal activities. But, the proposal remains vague on crucial regulatory aspects.

Certification of Carbon Dioxide Removals

Evaluation of the Commission Proposal

Year 2023

Project

On 30 November 2022, the Commission proposed an EU carbon removal certification framework (CRCF). The proposed framework could undermine the environmental integrity of EU climate policies. Within this project, Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut assess the Commission's proposal for the CRCF and discusses interlinkages of the CRCF with other pieces of EU climate law.

Assessment of the Certification Framework for Carbon Dioxide Removals in the EU

Nov 2022 - Apr 2024

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf

Anne Siemons (Oeko-Institut)
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Published by: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Year: 2023
Dimension: 7 pp.
Project: Assessment of the Certification Framework for Carbon Dioxide Removals in the EU
Project ID: 50122
Keywords: Climate

EU

delegated act, certification methodologies

Europe

Further Links

ProjectSupport on Devising a Carbon Removal Certification Mechanism

Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

This project supports the EU Commission's DG CLIMA to develop and evaluate different options for certifying carbon removal solutions. Carbon removals, also known as negative emissions, include nature-based technologies such as afforestation and soil carbon, and... Read more

Support on Devising a Carbon Removal Certification Mechanism

Duration: Dec 2020 - Nov 2022
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General for Climate Action (DG Climate), International

PublicationReportCertification of Carbon Removals. Part 1: Synoptic review of carbon removal solutions

Cover: Environment Agency, Austria, background photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere – 'carbon removals' – is essential to achieve Europe's 2050 net-zero climate goals. This report considers twelve nature- and technology-based carbon removal solutions, evaluating their climate mitigation potential and... Read more

Bey, Niki et al. 2021: Certification of Carbon Removals. Part 1: Synoptic review of carbon removal solutions. Vienna: Environment Agency Austria.

PublicationReportCertification of Carbon Removals. Part 2: A review of carbon removal certification mechanisms and methodologies

Cover: Environment Agency, Austria, background photo by Pixabay from Pexels

The European Commission is developing a certification mechanism to incentivise the removal of carbon from the atmosphere. To support its development, this report reviews 24 existing carbon removal certification mechanisms and methodologies and identifies key lessons for... Read more

McDonald, Hugh et al. 2021: Certification of Carbon Removals. Part 2: A review of carbon removal certification mechanisms and methodologies. Vienna: Environment Agency Austria.

PublicationReportMaking Carbon Removals a Real Climate Solution

Cover of Ecologic Institute's report "Making Carbon Removals a Real Climate Solution"

Carbon removals should not substitute reductions of fossil fuel emissions. Removals are an inherently weaker form of climate action than emission reductions. This has been a core principle of EU climate law, but now it is under threat. The Commission's proposal on the... Read more

Meyer-Ohlendorf, Nils (2023): Making Carbon Removals a Real Climate Solution. How to integrate carbon removals into EU Climate Policies. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.