A coalition of 55 carbon removal buyers and industry stakeholders has called on the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to revise key elements of its draft Corporate Net-Zero Standard (Version 2.0), warning that the current text could make it prohibitively difficult for companies to reach net-zero.
The open letter, coordinated by the Nordic Carbon Removal Association, follows the launch of SBTi’s public consultation on 6 November. Signatories argue that ambiguous language in the draft creates uncertainty around whether carbon removals can be used for neutralisation claims, potentially weakening incentives for corporate climate action.
Rather than supporting emissions-reduction efforts, the group says the draft risks slowing progress and introducing barriers that could “cause more damage than positive impact.”
The letter calls for two specific amendments. First, it urges SBTi to revise paragraph C29.6 to clarify that companies should be allowed to make neutralisation claims using permanent carbon removal certificates, provided the same certificate is not also claimed for compliance or voluntary purposes, and is reflected in only one Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Second, it asks for changes to the definition of additionality in point 1.3 of the draft standard. The proposed revision would permit neutralisation activities to contribute towards a host country’s NDC, as long as additionality is demonstrated for voluntary applications and corresponding adjustments are made for transactions involving internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs).
The Nordic Carbon Removal Association said the goal is to ensure companies can responsibly use high-quality CDR to meet net-zero targets without conflicting with international accounting rules.
The letter has drawn wide support across the carbon removal ecosystem, with signatories including suppliers, buyers, market platforms, trade bodies and major sector players such as Puro.earth, Isometric, Climeworks, 1PointFive, Stockholm Exergi, South Pole, Stripe, Nasdaq, the Carbon Business Council, DVNE and Heirloom.
