Carbon Removal Newsroom

CDR Policy is 'Hot' in the EU

Oct 10, 2023

The podcast discusses the growth of the carbon removal ecosystem in Europe, including the integration of removals into the EU's cap-and-trade scheme. It highlights the work of organizations like Carbon Gap and Carbonfuture, and explores the political dynamics and debates surrounding carbon farming and soil health. Additionally, it discusses the progress of a new CDR trade group in Germany and the innovative CDR technologies being developed by startups in the country.

48:08

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Quick takeaways

The EU is considering incorporating carbon removals into their cap-and-trade scheme, and there are non-profits, carbon marketplaces, startups, and trade groups offering information and analysis on the CDR policy landscape in Europe.

Soil health improvement and the need for supportive policy frameworks are crucial in addressing the challenges related to soil carbon policies in Europe, including food security, biodiversity decline, land degradation, and agricultural emissions.

Deep dives

The Growing Carbon Removal Ecosystem in Europe

The podcast episode discusses the development of the carbon removal ecosystem in Europe. It highlights how the EU is considering incorporating removals into their existing cap and trade scheme, and the emergence of nonprofits, carbon marketplaces, startups, and trade groups offering information and analysis of the rapidly developing CDR policy landscape in Europe. Specific organizations like Carbon Gap and Carbon Future are mentioned as examples. The episode also examines the challenges faced by the EU, such as high costs, public ambivalence, and macroeconomic obstacles. The conversation explores the current state of soil carbon policies and the need for soil health improvement across Europe. It touches on the gap between political rhetoric and action in soil governance, the need for supportive policy frameworks, and the importance of considering carbon farming's profitability and its potential impact on other priorities. The discussion also delves into the process of incorporating CDR into EU climate plans, mentioning the key role of the Common Legal Certification Framework (CSCF) and the importance of the upcoming vote in the European Parliament. Finally, the episode touches on the concept of climate justice and its relevance to CDR policies in Europe, emphasizing the need to address justice concerns and ensure equitable distribution of burdens and benefits.

Introduction

2min

EU's Carbon Removal Policy and Targets

18min

Political Dynamics and Support for CDR Policy in the EU

3min

Political Dynamics and Debates Around Carbon Farming

21min

Progress of CDR Trade Group in Germany

2min

CDR Startups and Innovation in Germany

2min

Not long ago it was difficult to find any information about the carbon removal ecosystem in Europe. Beyond academic papers, and a researcher or two at larger environmental non-profits, CDR policy was not an area with a mature ecosystem.

The situation is much different today. Not only is the EU considering ways to incorporate removals into their existing cap-and-trade scheme, but there are non-profits, carbon marketplaces, startups, and a new trade group offering sophisticated information and analysis of the rapidly developing CDR policy landscape in Europe.

One of them is Carbon Gap they describe themselves as “a science-based and philanthropy-funded expert non-profit" NGO working to bring just and equitable carbon removal policies to Europe through informed scientific research. Launched two years ago, the organisation keeps the carbon removal ecosystem informed through its Policy Tracker and regularly publishes articles.” Their most recent piece released last week approaches the thorny topic of avoiding emissions deterrence.

Their senior researcher is Kayla Cohen, whose work focuses on the developing soil carbon policies in Europe and climate justice issues.

Another organization that continues to provide high-level insight in Europe is Carbonfuture, a marketplace for ‘durable’ carbon credits. They claim over 40% of the market for durable carbon removal this year. And luckily for the public they also continue to publish information on the CDR market, including work on the topic of creating a trusted and inclusive MRV system, which we delved into on this show just a few weeks ago. The author of much of this work is their Senior Policy Advisor Sebastian Manhart.

The EU is poised to be a world leader in CDR, as it has been with climate policy. It features ambitious climate targets, robust academic research in the field, a talented labor pool, and a sophisticated non-profit sector taking on the challenge. But it also faces many of the headwinds found elsewhere against CDR such as high-costs, ambivalence from some of the public and existing environmental sector, fear of moral hazard, and broader macro-economic challenges threatening investment into newer climate tech.

On this episode Kayla and Sebastian join to talk about the current situation in Europe, the developments they’d like to see, and where they predict policy will be in 2030 and beyond.

On This Episode

Resources

Carbon Gap article on ‘solutions to mitigation deterrence’

Our show on Carbonfuture’s work on Trust + MRV

EU Soil Monitoring Law

Sebastian’s Article on Incorporating CDR in the ETS

Kayla’s Article on the EU Soil Monitoring Law