Creating an alternative carbon removals policy architecture for the EU

Carbon Market Watch is calling for the European Commission to establish a dedicated carbon removals framework separate from emission reduction efforts. The organization argues that the current EU approach, which uses a net emissions reduction target, misleadingly suggests that emissions and removals are equivalent and may delay necessary deep emissions cuts. To address this, Carbon Market Watch is building a coalition to co-create an alternative policy architecture featuring separate, explicit targets for emissions reductions, land-sector carbon sequestration, and permanent removals.

• The current EU target of a 55% net emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels is misleading because it translates to a gross emissions reduction of only 52-54% when carbon sequestration in natural sinks is excluded.
• Carbon removals are not a substitute for deep and sustained emissions reductions, although they remain necessary for accelerating mitigation, balancing final residual emissions, and addressing historic atmospheric pollution.
• Carbon Market Watch proposes a policy architecture for the EU's post-2030 framework that introduces separate and explicit targets and policies for three distinct areas: emissions reductions, carbon sequestration in the land sector, and permanent removals.

APA

Mair, G. (2023). Creating an alternative carbon removals policy architecture for the EU. Carbon Market Watch. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2023/11/09/creating-an-alternative-carbon-removals-policy-architecture-for-the-eu/

Chicago

Mair, Gavin. Creating an alternative carbon removals policy architecture for the EU. Carbon Market Watch, 2023. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2023/11/09/creating-an-alternative-carbon-removals-policy-architecture-for-the-eu/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Mair |first1=Gavin |title=Creating an alternative carbon removals policy architecture for the EU |publisher=Carbon Market Watch |date=9 November 2023 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2023/11/09/creating-an-alternative-carbon-removals-policy-architecture-for-the-eu/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{mair2023creating, author = {Mair, Gavin}, title = {{Creating an alternative carbon removals policy architecture for the EU}}, publisher = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/2023/11/09/creating-an-alternative-carbon-removals-policy-architecture-for-the-eu/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }