EU unveils groundbreaking CO2 removal framework amid mixed reactions

EU legislators and member state negotiators have unveiled a revolutionary framework for certifying carbon reductions in a historic step intended to advance the EU's carbon neutrality ambitions by 2050. A wide range of carbon removal initiatives within the 27-member bloc are expected to be energized by the recently established Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF), which is a voluntary framework.

According to European Parliament rapporteur Lidia Pereira, the framework is the product of painstaking talks and aims to harness private investment while reducing the dangers of "greenwashing" in the rapidly expanding carbon capture and storage business. The term "removal of carbon footprint" (CRCF) refers to a wide range of carbon removal processes, from state-of-the-art technologies that sequester carbon temporarily in durable products like wood-based construction materials to capturing CO2 at industrial sites and storing or converting it into synthetic fuels.

Notably, the CRCF promotes carbon farming methods such as restoring forests, soil, and wetlands in addition to lowering emissions via enhanced soil management practices including minimizing tilling and using less fertilizer. The framework will be further reviewed in 2026 to include reductions in methane emissions from livestock and manure management.

Through this program, European farmers will be able to produce and exchange carbon credits, opening up a potentially significant source of income. Environmentalists have criticized the plan, claiming it may promote dependence on carbon removals at the cost of actual emissions reductions. Carbon Market Watch called the plan essentially faulty and maybe harmful.

The law has been praised by Pascal Canfin, the head of the environment committee of the European Parliament, who described it as a groundbreaking worldwide effort that highlights the leadership of Europe in environmental policy. "This law will empower farmers to be financially rewarded for carbon sequestration and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Canfin told the media.

The European farmers' unions, represented by Copa-Cogeca, hailed the CRCF as a "pioneering framework" that tackles the problems of environmental transition and farm revenue. However, it called attention to the fact that livestock-related activities were left out of the framework and argued in favor of including biodiversity preservation initiatives in the compensation plan.

Within four years, the law requires the creation of a European public register for carbon removals in order to maintain openness and guard against fraud. The proposal still has to be formally approved by member states and approved by a legislative vote, despite the excitement around its possible advantages.

Thus, the EU's move toward a novel carbon neutrality policy captures the intricate interaction between environmental aspirations, farmer economic potential, and the continuous discussion about the most efficient and just routes to sustainability.

Source: AFP