EU certifications for carbon farming and CO₂ removals
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The EU has reached an agreement on the certification of high-quality CO₂ removals and carbon farming initiatives. Find out in this article what the key points of the regulation are and what it means for EU agriculture and companies that want to invest in carbon credits from regenerative agriculture.
Key messages:
- The aim of the EU certification framework (Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation, CRCF) is to promote and certify carbon removals and carbon farming initiatives to achieve the EU climate targets.
- The regulation differentiates between different types of CO₂ storage, both natural and technological, based on their storage duration.
- Quantification, additionality, long-term storage and sustainability are key quality criteria for the certification of CO₂ removals.
- Certification is initially voluntary and offers great scope for national action. Standardization by EU expert groups is necessary and remains to be seen.
What is the aim of the EU certification framework?
With the Green Deal, the EU has committed itself to climate neutrality by 2050. In addition to the overarching reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, existing emissions must be removed from the atmosphere in order to compensate for emissions that are difficult to reduce and achieve this goal. In addition to technical solutions for CO₂ removal, cost-efficient and scalable nature-based solutions play an important role here. In the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector, for example, the EU aims to achieve net CO₂ removals of 310 million tons by 2030. Carbon farming can make an important contribution to this.

By establishing a voluntary, EU-wide framework for the certification of high-quality CO₂ removals, known as the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework, , the EU aims to promote innovative CO₂ removal measures and carbon farming initiatives.
What are the key points of the agreement?
The provisionally agreed regulation establishes rules at EU level that enable uniform quantification, monitoring and verification of CO₂ removals and the carbon credits generated as a result. The agreement still needs to be formally confirmed by the Parliament and Council. It covers both technological and nature-based approaches to CO₂ removal and classifies them into three categories according to their storage period. The agreement also covers the reduction of emissions from soils through the release of soil carbon. The latter was not included in the European Commission's original proposal from November 2022 and was added in the agreement reached by Parliament and the Council.
The regulation distinguishes between the following types:
What are the key quality criteria?
The decision contains guidelines for the recognition of certification systems and defines specific criteria to ensure the quality, transparency and credibility of the carbon credits generated. The agreement retains the requirement of the Commission proposal that four central quality criteria must be met in order to receive certification: Quantification, additionality, long-term storage and sustainability, summarized as QU.A.L.ITY criteria:

- Quantification: The activities must have clear benefits for the climate. Correct information on CO₂ quantities must be guaranteed.
- Additionality: The measures must go beyond standard procedures and legally prescribed measures.
- Long-termstorage: It is ensured that the corresponding permanence is given depending on the type (see table above). Operators must be liable for re-releases of CO₂ into the atmosphere that occur during the monitoring period, which must be at least as long as the activity itself.
- SustainabilITY: The practices should contribute to broader sustainability goals. Every measure in the area of climate-efficient agriculture should have at least one positive side effect on biodiversity, which includes soil health and the reduction of soil erosion.
Based on these quality criteria, the Commission will develop adapted certification methods for the various CO₂ removal activities in order to ensure uniform, efficient and cost-effective application of the standards.
How does the EU certification for CO₂ removals work?
Certification is initially voluntary. Operators of CO₂ removal activities who wish to have their project certified must contact a certification body that has been audited and approved by the EU Commission.
The draft offers considerable scope for action at national level. Within this framework, both public and private certification systems of the EU member states can be approved. The establishment of a public certification system will not be mandatory, but will be decided on the basis of the individual benefits of each country.
The regulation stipulates that the carbon credits generated must be recorded in a public register. An EU-wide, electronic register for certified CO₂ emissions is to be introduced within four years. Until then, existing registers can be used.
How can farms receive remuneration - and companies make their contribution?
Remuneration can be paid through public or private funds. Public funds could, for example, be paid out as part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through state aid schemes or innovation funds. The financial resources of the CAP are intended to help farmers to go beyond the binding legal requirements of carbon farming. Germany could, for example, use the CAP framework as an instrument to create incentives for carbon farming with the help of eco-schemes.
Private financing, on the other hand, can be provided by food companies compensating farmers for the additional CO₂ emissions and, in return, improving their carbon footprint and strengthening the resilience of their supply chains - so-called insetting projects. The voluntary carbon market also allows companies from all sectors to invest in climate-efficient agriculture by purchasing carbon credits, thereby promoting climate protection and biodiversity. Klim is active in both of these areas and, together with companies, provides farmers with private funding to integrate regenerative measures - we will continue to do this and the regulation will not change this for the time being.
What does the decision mean for carbon farming and climate?
It is absolutely welcome that the EU has reached an important milestone towards an EU certificate market for CO₂ removals before the parliamentary elections in the summer. This creates certainty and trust for everyone involved in the chain. However, the draft regulation is very broad: If nation states can choose between either public, private or budget-financed systems and design them individually, there is a risk of fragmentation into 28 individual solutions. The vision of a uniform certification mechanism would be recklessly jeopardized. It is therefore now up to the EU expert groups to underpin the draft regulation with concrete certification methodologies and recognized measures and at the same time define them more precisely.
Only in this way can the EU regulation contribute to genuine standardization and provide greater support for the voluntary commitment of private sector companies. The eligibility of certificates at company level within the framework of EU certification still needs to be clarified. In view of the accelerating pace of climate change, we need such investment security now more than ever. Proper eligibility creates the necessary incentives for companies to invest in climate protection measures.
In order for the delicate little plant of carbon farming to fully blossom, some nurturing and care measures are still necessary. It will be good if all players in the value chain play an active role in shaping this development.
At Klim, we are already working with committed companies to scale up regenerative agriculture, because we no longer have time to wait. The quality of our certificates is ensured by taking into account the QU.A.L.ITY criteria, which can be found in the regulation. These include quantifiability, additionality and permanence as well as co-benefits for biodiversity and soil health. With our methodology and digital platform, we offer maximum transparency and traceability of our carbon credits.
Are you interested in discussing climate protection projects and regenerative agriculture? Then get in touch with us.
Get more information on how to use the potential of regenerative agriculture in your business.
Key messages:
- The aim of the EU certification framework (Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Regulation, CRCF) is to promote and certify carbon removals and carbon farming initiatives to achieve the EU climate targets.
- The regulation differentiates between different types of CO₂ storage, both natural and technological, based on their storage duration.
- Quantification, additionality, long-term storage and sustainability are key quality criteria for the certification of CO₂ removals.
- Certification is initially voluntary and offers great scope for national action. Standardization by EU expert groups is necessary and remains to be seen.
What is the aim of the EU certification framework?
With the Green Deal, the EU has committed itself to climate neutrality by 2050. In addition to the overarching reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, existing emissions must be removed from the atmosphere in order to compensate for emissions that are difficult to reduce and achieve this goal. In addition to technical solutions for CO₂ removal, cost-efficient and scalable nature-based solutions play an important role here. In the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector, for example, the EU aims to achieve net CO₂ removals of 310 million tons by 2030. Carbon farming can make an important contribution to this.

By establishing a voluntary, EU-wide framework for the certification of high-quality CO₂ removals, known as the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework, , the EU aims to promote innovative CO₂ removal measures and carbon farming initiatives.
What are the key points of the agreement?
The provisionally agreed regulation establishes rules at EU level that enable uniform quantification, monitoring and verification of CO₂ removals and the carbon credits generated as a result. The agreement still needs to be formally confirmed by the Parliament and Council. It covers both technological and nature-based approaches to CO₂ removal and classifies them into three categories according to their storage period. The agreement also covers the reduction of emissions from soils through the release of soil carbon. The latter was not included in the European Commission's original proposal from November 2022 and was added in the agreement reached by Parliament and the Council.
The regulation distinguishes between the following types:
What are the key quality criteria?
The decision contains guidelines for the recognition of certification systems and defines specific criteria to ensure the quality, transparency and credibility of the carbon credits generated. The agreement retains the requirement of the Commission proposal that four central quality criteria must be met in order to receive certification: Quantification, additionality, long-term storage and sustainability, summarized as QU.A.L.ITY criteria:

- Quantification: The activities must have clear benefits for the climate. Correct information on CO₂ quantities must be guaranteed.
- Additionality: The measures must go beyond standard procedures and legally prescribed measures.
- Long-termstorage: It is ensured that the corresponding permanence is given depending on the type (see table above). Operators must be liable for re-releases of CO₂ into the atmosphere that occur during the monitoring period, which must be at least as long as the activity itself.
- SustainabilITY: The practices should contribute to broader sustainability goals. Every measure in the area of climate-efficient agriculture should have at least one positive side effect on biodiversity, which includes soil health and the reduction of soil erosion.
Based on these quality criteria, the Commission will develop adapted certification methods for the various CO₂ removal activities in order to ensure uniform, efficient and cost-effective application of the standards.
How does the EU certification for CO₂ removals work?
Certification is initially voluntary. Operators of CO₂ removal activities who wish to have their project certified must contact a certification body that has been audited and approved by the EU Commission.
The draft offers considerable scope for action at national level. Within this framework, both public and private certification systems of the EU member states can be approved. The establishment of a public certification system will not be mandatory, but will be decided on the basis of the individual benefits of each country.
The regulation stipulates that the carbon credits generated must be recorded in a public register. An EU-wide, electronic register for certified CO₂ emissions is to be introduced within four years. Until then, existing registers can be used.
How can farms receive remuneration - and companies make their contribution?
Remuneration can be paid through public or private funds. Public funds could, for example, be paid out as part of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through state aid schemes or innovation funds. The financial resources of the CAP are intended to help farmers to go beyond the binding legal requirements of carbon farming. Germany could, for example, use the CAP framework as an instrument to create incentives for carbon farming with the help of eco-schemes.
Private financing, on the other hand, can be provided by food companies compensating farmers for the additional CO₂ emissions and, in return, improving their carbon footprint and strengthening the resilience of their supply chains - so-called insetting projects. The voluntary carbon market also allows companies from all sectors to invest in climate-efficient agriculture by purchasing carbon credits, thereby promoting climate protection and biodiversity. Klim is active in both of these areas and, together with companies, provides farmers with private funding to integrate regenerative measures - we will continue to do this and the regulation will not change this for the time being.
What does the decision mean for carbon farming and climate?
It is absolutely welcome that the EU has reached an important milestone towards an EU certificate market for CO₂ removals before the parliamentary elections in the summer. This creates certainty and trust for everyone involved in the chain. However, the draft regulation is very broad: If nation states can choose between either public, private or budget-financed systems and design them individually, there is a risk of fragmentation into 28 individual solutions. The vision of a uniform certification mechanism would be recklessly jeopardized. It is therefore now up to the EU expert groups to underpin the draft regulation with concrete certification methodologies and recognized measures and at the same time define them more precisely.
Only in this way can the EU regulation contribute to genuine standardization and provide greater support for the voluntary commitment of private sector companies. The eligibility of certificates at company level within the framework of EU certification still needs to be clarified. In view of the accelerating pace of climate change, we need such investment security now more than ever. Proper eligibility creates the necessary incentives for companies to invest in climate protection measures.
In order for the delicate little plant of carbon farming to fully blossom, some nurturing and care measures are still necessary. It will be good if all players in the value chain play an active role in shaping this development.
At Klim, we are already working with committed companies to scale up regenerative agriculture, because we no longer have time to wait. The quality of our certificates is ensured by taking into account the QU.A.L.ITY criteria, which can be found in the regulation. These include quantifiability, additionality and permanence as well as co-benefits for biodiversity and soil health. With our methodology and digital platform, we offer maximum transparency and traceability of our carbon credits.
Are you interested in discussing climate protection projects and regenerative agriculture? Then get in touch with us.