EU is solidifying regulations regarding the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere. An interim accord is set to institute a unique certification procedure for technologies that extract carbon dioxide from the air.
(Photo : Daniel LEAL / AFP) An EU flag and a Union flag held by a demonstrator are seen with Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) and the Houses of Parliament.
Removing CO2 from the Atmosphere
The European Union is formalizing regulations aimed at removing CO2 from the atmosphere. A preliminary accord has been reached to establish a pioneering certification system for technologies capable of extracting carbon dioxide from the air.
Both the European Council and the European Parliament have agreed on a provisional framework to certify such technologies, marking a milestone in the bloc's efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
This commitment entails utilizing natural mechanisms, such as plant absorption, and developing innovative technologies to capture residual CO2 emissions, underscoring the EU's dedication to combating climate change.
The net-zero strategy comes with inherent risks, highlighting the importance of the regulations introduced today. These guidelines aim to define carbon removal and sift out ineffective projects that offer little in the fight against climate change.
Loose or absence of regulations could allow companies to continue polluting while making false promises of offsetting emissions later. If these promises fail or the technologies prove unreliable, it could result in accumulating pollution that could have been avoided by prioritizing clean energy over carbon removal.
The framework reflects the EU's commitment to ensuring effective carbon removal strategies. Christoph Beuttler, Chief Climate Policy Officer at Climeworks, a leader in large-scale carbon capture technology, emphasized the significance of stringent assessments in a press release.
Up to this point, the sector has been responsible for self-regulation. Last year, Climeworks made headlines by disclosing that industry giants Microsoft, Stripe, and Shopify were the inaugural organizations globally to fund the removal of their carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere.
This process involved storing the emissions underground and obtaining third-party verification for the service. Auditing firm DNV collaborated with Climeworks to establish standards and authenticate the carbon removal process.
Delineating Disctint Categories of Carbon Removal
To ensure clarity and readability, the EU's new certification framework for carbon removal delineates four distinct categories of carbon removal, including permanent removal and temporary removal.
The certification process evaluates both industrial carbon removal methods, such as those employed by Climeworks, and nature-based approaches, like reforestation and habitat restoration, as well as farming practices enhancing soil carbon storage.
Projects must result in "additional" reductions in CO2, indicating that the sequestered carbon would not have naturally occurred without intervention. Moreover, projects are required to avoid any adverse environmental impacts.
Environmental organizations caution that the EU's proposal lacks stringency. They expressed apprehension regarding the framework's encouragement of temporary carbon storage and the potential for companies and nations to claim CO2 removals, which could result in double counting.
According to Wijnand Stoefs, carbon removal policy lead at the nonprofit Carbon Market Watch, the agreement is "deeply problematic." Stoefs asserts that the fundamental principle dictating removals should complement, not substitute, emission reductions have been disregarded.
