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EU sets world’s first voluntary standard for permanent carbon removals
11/2/2026
News
The European Commission (EC) has adopted the first set of methodologies under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation to certify activities that permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
It is hoped the standards will bring clear rules and new opportunities for climate innovation, investments in carbon removal technologies and address greenwashing.
The new rules cover three types of permanent carbon removal, selected for their technological maturity and potential contribution to the European Union’s (EU) climate objectives: direct air capture with carbon storage (DACCS), biogenic emissions capture with carbon storage (BioCCS) and biochar carbon removal (BCR).
With the certification framework and the governance rules in place, projects using these technologies can now start applying for EU certification.
The methodologies selected set out rules for permanent carbon removals, defining what counts as a tonne of removal, how permanence must be ensured, and how the key risks such as leakages and liabilities are addressed.
‘By establishing clear, robust voluntary standards, we are not only fostering responsible and climate action within Europe but also setting a global benchmark for others to follow,’ noted Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth.
The delegated regulation will now be sent to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for a two-month scrutiny period, which may be extended by a further two months. In the absence of objections, it is expected to be published in April.
Two further sets of regulations for certification methodologies are due to be adopted this year. One set will cover carbon farming activities, including agriculture, agroforestry, peatland rewetting and afforestation. The Commission said these rules are intended to support result-based payments for farmers and foresters.
A second set will cover carbon storage in bio-based construction products. The EC said these methodologies would allow building owners to demonstrate carbon storage performance and encourage circular bioeconomy practices in construction.
To kick-start the voluntary market for CRCF credits, the Commission announced the establishment of an EU Buyers’ Club for permanent removals and carbon farming under the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy.
