Carbon Dioxide Removal Strategy for the EU

Discussion paper

Publication: Document
Citation: Meyer-Ohlendorf, Nils, 2021: Carbon Dioxide Removal Strategy for the EU. Berlin: Ecologic Institute.

The EU's debate on carbon dioxide removals (CDRs) is gaining momentum, but in important parts it is still a mystery. Basics of an EU framework for CDR remain unclear. An EU CDR Strategy could demystify CDRs and help trigger the necessary political debate on CDRs.

A paper by Ecologic Institute discusses a CDR strategy for the EU. It examines why the EU should have a CDR strategy, and explores the main elements of a CDR strategy.

The Conference on the Future of Europe: Lessons from the European Citizens' Panels

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online, Berlin, Germany

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screen shot of the briefing note's first page

This Briefing Note presents the first insights from Climate Recon 2050 – a project aiming to facilitate intra-EU exchange and foster the creation of know-how and networks essential to develop effective and ambitious national long-term climate strategies as a tool to guide a successful transition to a low-carbon economy. The Briefing Note brings together insights from the project’s activities – including a day of discussions on long-term climate planning held among policymakers from 10 EU Member States – and builds on related research by project partners.

2050 Climate Strategies in EU Countries: State of Play

Briefing Note 01

Year 2018

Publication:Document

On 9 May 2022, Europe Day, the Conference on the Future of Europe (CFE) closed – with the adoption of 49 recommendations. This is not the end of the process, but the beginning of new political action. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the role of the CFE as a starting point for renewed discussions on important topics such as climate, energy policy and EU democracy has been reiterated. Indeed, many recommendations from the CFE address EU climate policies – especially the ones prepared by its third citizens' panel on climate change, the environment and health. In this Ecologic Institute paper, Deyana Spasova questions how the panel's recommendations can improve EU climate policy? Where do the recommendations merely reiterate what is already in place? And how could the EU best translate the suggestions into policy action? The paper is available for download.

Conference on the Future of Europe

What is next for EU climate policies?

Year 2022

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf
Funding: European Climate Foundation (ECF), International
Published by: Ecologic Institute, Germany
Year: 2021
Dimension: 21 pp.
Project: Dialogue on Pathways and Policies for a Climate-neutral EU (Climate Recon 2050)
Project ID: 30008
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

1   Introduction
2   Why the EU should have CDR strategy
3   Relationship with other EU policies
4   What should the EU CDR Strategy contain?
4.1   Reductions first, removals second
4.2   Quantified CDR targets
4.3   Paving the way towards legally binding targets for the EU and Member States
4.4   How much CDRs for the EU?
4.5   Criteria for an informed debate on CDR options
4.6   Restoring degraded ecosystems
4.7   Afforestation, reforestation and Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
4.8   Direct Air Capture and Enhanced Weathering
4.9   Soil carbon sequestration
4.10   Research and innovation
4.11   Incentives for CDR deployment and research
5   References
Keywords: Climate

Europe