The CDR Policy Scoop

It may still be summer, but the new series, “Scoop School”, is now in session. First lesson: Carbon Removal Accounting. Which is not the same as MRV, and the lesson will get to that.Countries are facing new and urgent questions regarding how to account for removals, whether it's within the context of the Paris Agreement’s Crediting Mechanism PACM, the EU’s CRCF, or incorporating removals into emission trading systems. All of this has a tangible impact on which carbon removal methods can be scaled via compliance markets, and oftentimes comes as a surprise to those active exclusively in voluntary markets.The inaugural “Scoop School” lesson will cover:What types of removals are included in the national accountingWhich ones are notAnd which ones are in the grey zoneWhere are the blind spots? Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme as they delve into these questions and more to make sense of the current state of play.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteWill the Carbon Removal Certification Framework count in the race to climate neutrality?CDR and credibility: Unpacking reversal rules under Article 6.4 with Danny CullenwardReport of the IPCC Expert Meeting, 2024Draft outline of the Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture Utilization and StorageDiscussions on the IPCC Report on CO2 Removal/Carbon Capture to continue at next session Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe’s forests and soils have been acting as an indispensable cushion for our climate targets, currently offsetting around 6% of the EU’s GHG emissions. But the LULUCF sink - the EU’s natural carbon safety net - has dropped by 30% compared to the previous decade. Recent projections highlight a crucial gap between the climate target and the current sink.Is Europe’s land carbon sink slipping away? What will it take to bring it back? Can smart and innovative policy design turn the tide on the EU’s carbon sink? Enter Asger Strange Olesen, one of Europe’s leading voices on climate and land sector policy. He’s the Global Head of Climate and Biodiversity at the International Woodland Company and is heavily involved in the CRCF as an Independent Member of the EU Carbon Removal Expert Group.Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they learn from Asger the science behind the shrinking sink, explore current EU policy responses, and uncover the best CDR policy solutions to enhance land-based removals.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteAsger Strange Olesen: LinkedIn and MediumSupercharging Carbon Removal from the EU’s Land SectorDG CLIMA: EU Land Use Sector Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM, also known as the Article 6.4 mechanism) is going through another round of public consultations. One key document on the table is the draft standard on non-permanence/reversals, which has sparked a lot of questions.What are the options on the table? What does it mean for different types of carbon removal projects? How are the various documents up for public consultation via the Methodology Expert Panel and the PACM Supervisory Body connected?There is no better person to help with deciphering the content and process than Danny Cullenward, a member of the PACM Methodological Expert Panel. Co-author of the influential book “Making Climate Policy Work”, his research and advice have influenced the architecture of carbon markets globally. Danny speaks in his individual capacity and does not represent the MEP or the PACM at our live session.Join co-host Eve Tamme and Danny as they discusses the reversals standard under consideration, and what it means for building international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteDanny Cullenward: Bluesky and WebsitePACM draft standard on addressing non-permanence/reversalsPACM concept note on the applicability of removal guidance to emission reduction activities and vice versaPACM standard on requirements for activities involving removalsConsultation response by Perspective Climate ResearchCall for input - Draft Standard: Addressing non-permanence/reversals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ted Christie-Miller, co-founder of Residual, dives into the UK's evolving role in carbon dioxide removal policy. He discusses the UK’s pioneering Net-Zero Strategy and its ambitious targets, and how recent government plans aim to integrate carbon removals into the UK Emissions Trading System. The conversation also tackles the challenges of funding mechanisms and the complexities of Contracts for Difference in promoting carbon removal. Christie-Miller sheds light on the political landscape and how innovation is crucial for the UK to solidify its leadership in global carbon management.

Like it or not, the “like-for-like” debate in carbon removal isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Conversations around temporary versus durable, conventional versus novel removals are increasingly diverging. Should carbon markets foresee separate roles for these removal types, or strive for a common ground that makes all removals comparable? Is true compatibility even possible?Co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are delighted to welcome Gabrielle Walker, co-founder of Rethinking Removals and CUR8, as their guest. Scientist-turned-CDR powerhouse, Gabrielle has a deep understanding and passion for these topics like no other. Join the conversation to find out what “like-for-like” really means, why it matters for policy and net-zero claims, and how to build integrity with today’s knowledge.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteGabrielle Walker: LinkedIn, CUR8, Rethinking RemovalsGeological Net Zero and the need for disaggregated accounting for carbon sinks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first methodologies for permanent removals under the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Regulation are being finalised.The European Commission’s 8th Carbon Removal Expert Group meeting, held on 10 July, was dedicated to a draft delegated act on DACCS, BioCCS, and biochar.Does this draft piece of legislation do justice to the CDR methods under consideration? Or does it fall short, and the Commission consultants should be sent back to the drawing board?Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme as they analyse the heated discussions in the expert group and the next steps.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteCarbon Removal Expert Group meeting on permanent removals, 10 July 2025 - agenda, slides, recording Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not one week passes without news of major developments coming out of Germany: earlier in the year, Europe’s biggest economy became the first country in the world to enshrine a net-zero target (2045) into its constitution.Following the recent election, the ruling coalition then included carbon removal in its coalition treaty. More recently, a line dedicated to CDR was added to the federal budget and rumour has it that large sums of funding could soon be allocated to this as early as 2026.Could Germany become the global powerhouse for CDR? And what will it take exactly to get there?Co-host Eve Tamme discusses this and more with Nadine Walsh, the Policy Manager from the Deutscher Verband für negative Emissionen e.V. (DVNE) - Germany’s national CDR association.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteNadine Walsh: LinkedInDVNE: Website and LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A day after the European Commission published its legislative proposal for the EU’s 2040 climate target, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart sat down for a timely session to analyse the proposal.Although the expected 90% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 (compared to 1990 levels) is the headline target, several key elements in the proposal have elicited strong reactions among stakeholders.And what does it all mean for carbon removal?The CDR Policy Scoop co-hosts cut through the noise and analyse how the proposal could evolve during the upcoming negotiations.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteEU 2040 climate target proposalEve’s LinkedIn post on the EU’s 2040 climate target proposalEU climate chief lobbied Germany to back weakened 2040 goalThe EU’s 2040 Climate Target — context, scope and designWill the Carbon Removal Certification Framework count in the race to climate neutrality?Wijnand Stoefs (Carbon Market Watch) highly critical post on the proposal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marta Krupinska, CEO at CUR8 and a fierce advocate for permanent carbon removals, squares off against Renat Heuberger, CEO at Terra Impact Ventures and a veteran in the voluntary carbon market. They dive into the heated debate on carbon reduction versus removal credits. Krupinska champions innovative solutions like DAC and biochar, while Heuberger highlights the preeminence of reductions in tackling climate change. The conversation navigates the need for transparency, the urgency of balancing strategies, and the role of both approaches in a sustainable future.

In this engaging discussion, Elisabeth Harding, a policy manager at the Negative Emissions Platform and expert in carbon direct removal based in Brussels, explores the tumultuous journey of the Green Claims Directive. She highlights the political turmoil in the EU, with Germany's influence complicating negotiations. They delve into the potential requirement for carbon removal practices and the critical need for sound regulations to combat greenwashing. The challenges posed by increased costs for businesses and the implications for EU's carbon markets take center stage.