The European Parliament has adopted its final report on a proposal to establish the first EU-level certification framework for carbon removal processes, which aims to quantify, monitor, and verify carbon removal, as well as counter the prevalence of greenwashing.
The certification framework was approved by a 448 votes in favour, 65 against, and 114 abstentions.
Parliament officials noted that the framework is designed not only to improve the accuracy of measurements but also to foster increased utilisation of carbon removal methods. Furthermore, it aims to build trust with stakeholders and industry players while countering the prevalence of greenwashing in the sector.
The European Parliament also emphasised the need for an EU registry to ensure transparency. The registry’s role is not only to provide information to the public but also to prevent fraud and the double counting of carbon removals. This approach underscores the Parliament’s commitment to establishing a robust and trustworthy system, it added.
Carbon removal
Following the vote, rapporteur Lídia Pereira (EPP, PT) said, “climate change is already so serious that we cannot rely solely on emissions reductions, but also need to remove carbon”, adding that the new tool “makes this possible, as we are advancing with rules to regulate a market that has been plagued by greenwashing, lack of clarity and distrust.”
Pereira highlighted the potential impact of certification, noting that it could attract private investment in carbon removal projects. This influx of private funds, in turn, could be expected to support the broader climate transition, contributing to Europe‘s leadership in addressing climate challenges.
‘A step in the right direction’
Farmer representative group Copa-Cogeca welcomed the adoption, saying that the the EU voluntary carbon framework aims to ‘facilitate and speed up the deployment of high-quality mitigation and adaptation actions in the EU, including those originating from carbon farming practices’.
It welcomed the European Parliament‘s acknowledgement that ‘carbon farming is not just sequestration of carbon but also emissions’ reductions from soil, and enteric and manure fermentation’, adding that it marks a ‘step in the right direction, which will enable more farmers to see the benefits of this system’.
