Six things the UK should consider when integrating greenhouse gas removals into its emissions trading scheme

The Clean Air Task Force supports integrating greenhouse gas removals (GGRs) into the UK ETS but argues that this must be phased in gradually to avoid market volatility and price drops. The organization emphasizes that emissions reductions must remain the priority and suggests maintaining the gross emissions cap to preserve the system's integrity. To ensure long-term deployment of durable GGRs, the document recommends complementary policies such as carbon contracts for difference (CCfD) or carbon takeback obligations (CTBO), as the ETS alone may not sufficiently drive innovation. Additionally, it calls for a separate UK GGR certification scheme and strengthened permanence frameworks to manage variable durability GGRs, including limits on their use that decline over time.

• The integration of greenhouse gas removals (GGRs) into the UK ETS should be gradual and phased to prevent market volatility and negative impacts on emissions allowance prices.
• Emissions reductions must take precedence over removals to ensure that GGRs complement rather than replace decarbonization efforts.
• The UK should keep the gross cap on emissions during the initial integration of GGRs to ensure the total number of allowances remains aligned with the net zero trajectory and does not increase emissions.
• The UK ETS alone is likely insufficient to drive the necessary innovation and cost reductions for durable GGRs; therefore, complementary mechanisms such as carbon contracts for difference (CCfD), carbon takeback obligations (CTBO), or net zero mandates should be considered.
• To manage the risks associated with variable durability GGRs, the UK should implement a strengthened permanence framework and set limits on the percentage of emissions offset by such allowances, with these limits decreasing over time.
• The UK should develop a dedicated GGR certification scheme because the UK ETS is not an appropriate mechanism for the verification and certification of GGRs.

APA

Rossi, C., & Sanders-DeMott, R. (2024). Six things the UK should consider when integrating greenhouse gas removals into its emissions trading scheme. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2024/09/six-things-uk-should-consider-integrating-greenhouse-gas-removals-emissions-trading-scheme/

Chicago

Rossi, Codie, and Rebecca Sanders-DeMott. Six things the UK should consider when integrating greenhouse gas removals into its emissions trading scheme. Clean Air Task Force, 2024. https://www.catf.us/2024/09/six-things-uk-should-consider-integrating-greenhouse-gas-removals-emissions-trading-scheme/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Rossi |first1=Codie |last2=Sanders-DeMott |first2=Rebecca |title=Six things the UK should consider when integrating greenhouse gas removals into its emissions trading scheme |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=11 September 2024 |url=https://www.catf.us/2024/09/six-things-uk-should-consider-integrating-greenhouse-gas-removals-emissions-trading-scheme/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{rossi2024six, author = {Rossi, Codie and Sanders-DeMott, Rebecca}, title = {{Six things the UK should consider when integrating greenhouse gas removals into its emissions trading scheme}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://www.catf.us/2024/09/six-things-uk-should-consider-integrating-greenhouse-gas-removals-emissions-trading-scheme/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }