Call for evidence on the Governance Regulation

The document argues that EU member states' National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS) lack transparency and rigorous assessment regarding the deployment of permanent carbon dioxide removals (CDR). Carbon Market Watch warns that relying on unproven CDR volumes risks deterring essential emissions reductions. To remedy this, the author proposes making Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) funding contingent on reporting quality, introducing dedicated CDR sections in planning templates, and legally defining 'overreliance' on CDR as 'insufficient ambition' within the Governance Regulation.

• EU member states' National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) currently lack transparency and adequate assessments regarding the deployment of permanent carbon dioxide removals, leaving critical questions about financing, resource demand, and CO2 infrastructure unanswered.
• The deployment of permanent CDR technologies, specifically Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) and Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS), may create adverse pressures on biodiversity, food production, and the rights of local communities due to their demand for land, water, and clean energy.
• There is a lack of enforcement for the Governance Regulation, which reduces the incentive for member states to provide high-quality reporting; Carbon Market Watch suggests linking MFF financing to the completeness and quality of NECPs and LTSs.
• To prevent the risk of CDR deterring mitigation, the Governance Regulation's Article 31 should be amended to define 'overreliance' on permanent CDR as 'insufficient ambition' when projected volumes lack credible assessments of availability, cost, and social or environmental impacts.

APA

Carbon Market Watch (2026). Call for evidence on the Governance Regulation. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/19032026-CMW-Feedback-on-Call-for-Evidence_-Governance-Regulation.pdf

Chicago

Carbon Market Watch. Call for evidence on the Governance Regulation. 2026. https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/19032026-CMW-Feedback-on-Call-for-Evidence_-Governance-Regulation.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Carbon Market Watch |title=Call for evidence on the Governance Regulation |date=19 March 2026 |url=https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/19032026-CMW-Feedback-on-Call-for-Evidence_-Governance-Regulation.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{carbonmarketwatch2026call, author = {{Carbon Market Watch}}, title = {{Call for evidence on the Governance Regulation}}, publisher = {Carbon Market Watch}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://carbonmarketwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/19032026-CMW-Feedback-on-Call-for-Evidence_-Governance-Regulation.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }