The European Commission has taken a decisive step towards a reliable European market for carbon removal. With new implementing rules, the voluntary certification framework for carbon removal and carbon farming is now being made operational. The 'Implementing Regulation 2025/2358', together with initiatives from the Bioeconomy Strategy, aims to ensure reliability and reduce administrative burdens.
The Commission's goal is clear: CO2 capture must be measurable, verifiable, and transparent. While the main principles were already outlined last year in the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF), the rules now adopted provide the practical implementation. This is crucial for market confidence and preventing greenwashing.
End to the proliferation of certificates
The new implementing regulation establishes how certification schemes are officially recognized and the requirements certifying bodies and auditors must meet. This sets a standard for a wide range of projects: from technically advanced biochar and storage in building products to nature-based solutions such as peat restoration and agroforestry.
For the biomass and agricultural sectors, this means that carbon capture projects will soon be able to demonstrate their climate benefits through a standardized process. Only projects that pass the test will receive the European seal of approval.
Lowering the barriers for farmers and builders
A common obstacle to carbon farming is the high costs of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), especially for small-scale projects. The Commission is addressing this with a new European data source. By using satellite products, models, and reference values, the costs of measuring should be reduced.
At the same time, work is underway on the demand side. Through a new "buyer initiative," Brussels aims to aggregate demand for certified carbon removal. This should give project developers and farmers greater certainty about sales opportunities and pricing, even before they make major investments.
Boost for biobased construction
The plans also have direct implications for the bioeconomy and the construction sector. The Commission has announced that it will present a specific methodology for pricing carbon storage in buildings in 2026.
This opens the door to the larger-scale application of biobased materials such as wood, hemp fiber, and other bio-based raw materials. By valuing the stored carbon in these materials financially or through regulations, the circular construction economy can be accelerated. Public procurement strategies will also be adapted accordingly.
From paper to practice
The coming months will be dedicated to implementation. Certification schemes will have to apply for recognition, and methodologies for specific types of disposal will be further developed.
For Dutch stakeholders in agriculture, forestry, and the bioenergy sector, the message is clear: investing in robust monitoring and transparent governance pays off. As soon as the methodologies are finalized, audits will be assessed against this new European benchmark.
Source: European Commission
Photo: Nicholas A. Tonelli, Pxhere
