On 4 December 2025, Ecologic Institute co-hosted a closed-door workshop in Brussels with DG CLIMA and the World Economic Forum. As part of the EU-Commission funded project Strategy for the Financing of Permanent Carbon Removals, more than 50 representatives from industry, finance, and EU institutions explored how to accelerate private purchases of high-quality permanent carbon removals (CDR). Early corporate purchasers highlighted three drivers: demonstrating climate leadership, meeting voluntary net-zero targets, and positioning themselves for emerging business opportunities in permanent removals. Participants pointed to high costs, reputational concerns, complex contracting, and policy uncertainty as key obstacles. Many stressed the need for clearer long-term EU policy to give companies confidence to buy early.

Permanent carbon dioxide removals will require major investment – meeting the EU's aspirational 2030 target could cost €2.4-€6.7 billion. The key question is: what role can the EU play? To unpack the implications of this blueprint, last September CDR Policy Scoop welcomed Hugh McDonald, Senior Fellow at the Ecologic Institute and lead author of the report.

While cutting emissions remains the primary objective of EU climate policy, achieving climate neutrality and eventually net-negative emissions will also require large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions. This report provides an overview of the current state and future potential of permanent CDR in Europe.

This report explores options for an EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals to address a critical gap in climate change mitigation. While emissions reductions remain the primary objective of EU climate policy, achieving climate neutrality and eventually net-negative emissions necessitates the large-scale deployment of carbon removals. This requires the swift development and deployment of cost-effective and socially beneficial carbon removal technologies.

This document serves as an informational pre-read for the workshop Perspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits, that took place on 21 May 2025 in Brussels, hosted by DG CLIMA.

The Directorate-General for Climate Action of the European Commission hosted a half-day workshop on the design of an EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removal. The workshop served as a platform to share ongoing research and to gather insights from funders, buyers, and policy experts about the motivations behind carbon removal investments and the prerequisites for a successful EU initiative.

On 28 January 2025, the Directorate-General for Climate Action of the European Commission is hosting a 1-day event on public funding for permanent carbon removal. The event will focus on exploring and enhancing the financing landscape for climate action, with a specific emphasis on instruments supporting permanent carbon removal.

This project will support the European Commission's DG CLIMA to develop policies related to the financing of permanent carbon removal technologies, with an emphasis on mechanisms that can accelerate their upscaling. These include tools like public procurement, public-private partnerships, and EU funding instruments.