EU pioneers carbon removals certification: Key recommendations and principles

The European Union is developing a certification mechanism for carbon dioxide removals (CDR) to address the lack of widely accepted standards and reduce risks to the environment and consumer protection. The Clean Air Task Force recommends that the EU adopt a framework based on the IPCC's approach, categorizing methods by removal process and storage timescale rather than the 'natural vs. technological' dichotomy. To ensure integrity, the document proposes that certified removals must be real, measurable, additional, permanent, avoid leakage, and avoid double counting. Additionally, it suggests the creation of EU-level scientific and stakeholder advisory boards to oversee the framework's implementation and its integration into voluntary and compliance markets.

• The absence of regulated standards for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) certification currently leads to risks regarding consumer protection and the environment, as claims often lack comparability and technical or methodological transparency.
• The EU is encouraged to move away from the 'natural vs. technological' CDR dichotomy and instead adopt the IPCC's method of categorizing CDR by the removal process (such as chemical, geochemical, ocean-based, or land-based) and the estimated duration of carbon storage.
• To safeguard climate benefits, the EU's certification mechanism should be based on several core principles: removals must be real, measurable, additional, permanent, avoid leakage, avoid double counting, and ensure sustainability.
• The document recommends that the EU establish institutional roles and advisory boards, including a scientific advisory board and a board of market participants and civil society stakeholders, to ensure the framework's rigor and harmony across the bloc.

APA

Pernot, E., Fallon, K., Beck, L., & Tamme, E. (2022). EU pioneers carbon removals certification: Key recommendations and principles. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2022/05/eu-pioneers-carbon-removals-certification-key-recommendations-principles/

Chicago

Pernot, Eadbhard, Kathy Fallon, Lee Beck, and Eve Tamme. EU pioneers carbon removals certification: Key recommendations and principles. Clean Air Task Force, 2022. https://www.catf.us/2022/05/eu-pioneers-carbon-removals-certification-key-recommendations-principles/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pernot |first1=Eadbhard |last2=Fallon |first2=Kathy |last3=Beck |first3=Lee |last4=Tamme |first4=Eve |title=EU pioneers carbon removals certification: Key recommendations and principles |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=19 May 2022 |url=https://www.catf.us/2022/05/eu-pioneers-carbon-removals-certification-key-recommendations-principles/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pernot2022pioneers, author = {Pernot, Eadbhard and Fallon, Kathy and Beck, Lee and Tamme, Eve}, title = {{EU pioneers carbon removals certification: Key recommendations and principles}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2022}, month = may, url = {https://www.catf.us/2022/05/eu-pioneers-carbon-removals-certification-key-recommendations-principles/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }