Certification for carbon removals and carbon farming (CRCF)

KEY POINTS

Eligibility for certification

To qualify for certification, carbon removals and soil emission reductions generated by an activity (e.g. a project) located in the EU must meet the following four quality criteria and be subject to independent verification.

1. Quantification.

• Activities must show a net carbon removal benefit. This is calculated by comparing their standardised baseline removals or emissions with the total removals or emissions generated, minus the greenhouse gases due to the implementation of the activity (e.g. energy use).
• The European Commission will set out highly representative standardised baselines in the relevant EU certification methodology. If such baselines are not available due to, for instance, a lack of data, operators are required to calculate their activity-specific baseline, following standard rules set out in the EU methodology.

2. Additionality.

Activities need to be additional to the standard practice. Therefore, operators must carry out activities that are not already imposed upon them by the applicable law or that are already financially viable without the incentive effect provided by CRCF certification.

3. Liability.

• Operators need to monitor and guarantee the storage of carbon over a given period (the monitoring period) and are liable for any carbon reversal occurring during the monitoring period.
• The EU certification methodologies will set out specific rules on monitoring and liability, reflecting the expected duration of the storage and the reversal risk of the activity. For instance, permanent carbon removals with underground storage will be subject to the safeguards set out in Directive 2009/31/EC on the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CCS Directive, see summary).
• Certified units generated by carbon farming and carbon storage in products are temporary and therefore expire at end of the monitoring period, unless the latter is renewed or permanent storage is demonstrated by the operator.

4. Sustainability.

Activities must avoid environmental harm, and should ideally support the wider sustainability objectives, such as:

• biodiversity and ecosystems protection and restoration;
• climate change adaptation;
• the transition to a circular economy;
• pollution prevention and control;
• the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources.

Carbon farming must at least generate one co-benefit for biodiversity/ecosystems. Biomass used for carbon removal must at least meet the EU biomass sustainability requirements set out in Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on renewable energy.

Certification methodologies

To operationalise the quality criteria, the Commission will adopt tailored certification methodologies for different groups of activities by means of delegated acts.

Certification process

To achieve certification, an operator must:

• submit an application to a recognised certification scheme, with an activity plan describing how the activity complies with the relevant CRCF methodology and a monitoring plan detailing how compliance will be monitored;
• carry out its activity in due compliance with the CRCF methodologies;
• undergo independent audits carried out by an accredited certification body, which verifies the compliance with CRCF methodology.

For carbon farming, Regulation (EU) 2024/3012 promotes synergies with the existing information systems, such as the land parcel information system established under the common agricultural policy.

Certification schemes can issue certified units only after a successful audit of carbon removal / soil emission reductions.

A certification body must:

• be accredited (under Regulation (EC) No 765/2008) or recognised by national authorities;
• be independent (no financial/legal ties to operators);
• operate in the public interest.

A certification scheme must have a transparent and robust governance, with clear rules on:

• decision-making and scheme management;
• internal monitoring, including complaint/appeal procedures and fees;
• the approval of accredited certification bodies;
• the publication of its annual operational report;
• the management of its certification registry.

The Commission approves a scheme for a maximum of five years. Approval can be revoked if the scheme fails to comply with the rules set out in approval decision.

EU registry

The EU will establish a centralised registry by December 2028, financed by user fees, to:

• publish all certification information, including certificates and audits;
• track certified units to prevent double-counting and ensure transparency.

Review

The CRCF Regulation will be reviewed regularly, taking into consideration several factors including alignment with EU legislation and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change / Paris Agreement developments.

By the end of 2026, the Commission will need to assess:

• the feasibility of certifying livestock emission reductions, including by developing a pilot methodology;
• the need for alignment with the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and with best practices on corresponding adjustments.