Sustainability Criteria for Carbon Dioxide Removals

Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf; Dr. Hannes Böttcher; Felix Fallasch; Dr. Lambert Schneider; Anne Siemons

Sustainability Criteria for Carbon Dioxide Removals

Publication: Fact Sheet
Citation: Böttcher, Hannes et al. 2023: Sustainability criteria for carbon dioxide removals. Requirements for sustainability criteria in the EU CRCF proposal and elements to be included in a delegated act. Dessau-Roßlau: German Environment Agency.

The Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) proposal of the European Commission and the proposed amendments by Council and European Parliament include minimum sustainability criteria for carbon removals. These criteria are vague and require specification. A new paper by Oeko-Institut and Ecologic Institute examines the sustainability criteria in detail. The German Environment Agency published the paper.

Contact

Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf

Head, International and European Governance

Senior Fellow

Carbon Removals in EU Climate Policies

How to Use Carbon Removal Certificates?

28 February 2024
Online

Publication:Fact Sheet

In cooperation with the Oeko-Institut, the Ecologic Institute assessed whether the Commission's proposal on a Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) is compatible with the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The paper is published as a fact sheet by the German Environment Agency. It argues that the CRCF violates Article 290 of the Treaty, as it would delegate essential elements of the Regulation to the Commission. The legislative process can address this problem.

Commission Proposal for an EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework

Year 2023

Publication:Report

On 30 November 2022, the Commission proposed an EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF). The Commission's proposal is an important initiative for promoting the implementation of carbon removals within the EU. It aims to help generate additional funding for removal activities. But, the proposal remains vague on crucial regulatory aspects.

Certification of Carbon Dioxide Removals

Evaluation of the Commission Proposal

Year 2023

Project

On 30 November 2022, the Commission proposed an EU carbon removal certification framework (CRCF). The proposed framework could undermine the environmental integrity of EU climate policies. Within this project, Ecologic Institute and Oeko-Institut assess the Commission's proposal for the CRCF and discusses interlinkages of the CRCF with other pieces of EU climate law.

Assessment of the Certification Framework for Carbon Dioxide Removals in the EU

Nov 2022 - Apr 2024

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf

Dr. Hannes Böttcher, Felix Fallasch, Dr. Lambert Schneider, Anne Siemons (Oeko-Institut)
Funding: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Published by: German Environment Agency (UBA), Germany
Year: 2023
Dimension: 11 pp.
Project: Assessment of the Certification Framework for Carbon Dioxide Removals in the EU
Project ID: 50122
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

Summary
1 Introduction
2 Assessment of sustainability requirements
2.1 Sustainability requirements of the CRCF proposal
2.2 Amendments suggested by the Council
2.3 Amendments suggested by the EP
2.4 Do-No-Significant-Harm Principle of the EU Taxonomy
2.4.1 Relevant rules
2.4.2 Identified gaps
2.5 Sustainability requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive
2.5.1 Relevant rules
2.5.2 Identified gaps
3 Defining and operationalising the sustainability criteria included in the CRCF proposal
3.1 Defining requirements and thresholds for individual sustainability criteria
3.2 Recommendations for further developing the CRCF proposal
4 References
Keywords: Climate

Indicators

Attachments

50122-fact-sheet-sustainability-criteria-for-carbon-dioxid-removals.pdf (1001.14 KB)

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