The European Commission has adopted the first set of certification methodologies under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation, marking a key step in creating a voluntary EU-wide framework to certify activities that permanently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
The move sets clear, legally grounded standards aimed at boosting climate innovation, mobilising investment in carbon removal technologies and tackling greenwashing. It also positions the European Union as a global front-runner in the emerging carbon removals market, supporting its goal of climate neutrality by 2050.
The initial methodologies cover three types of permanent carbon removal activities, chosen for their technological maturity and potential climate impact:
- Direct air capture with carbon storage (DACCS)
- Biogenic emissions capture with carbon storage (BioCCS)
- Biochar carbon removal (BCR)
Wopke Hoekstra, Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, said the EU was “taking decisive action to lead the global effort in carbon removals”, adding that robust voluntary standards would both foster responsible climate action in Europe and set a global benchmark.
With the certification framework and governance rules now in place, projects using DACCS, BioCCS and biochar can begin applying for EU certification. This marks the shift from rule-setting to implementation, with the first projects expected to be certified and recognised in the coming months.
A European standard for permanent removals
The adopted methodologies define what constitutes a tonne of carbon removal, how permanence must be ensured, and how risks such as leakages and long-term liabilities are addressed. Together, they establish the EU’s first comprehensive standard for permanent carbon removals, offering long-awaited clarity for companies and investors in a fast-growing but still thin market.
Built on existing EU climate legislation, the framework aims to safeguard environmental integrity while keeping administrative burdens proportionate.
Next steps and further methodologies
The delegated regulation will now be transmitted to the European Parliament and the Council of the EU for a two-month scrutiny period, extendable by a further two months. Subject to no objections, it is expected to be published in the Official Journal in early April and enter into force 20 days later.
The Commission is also finalising two additional delegated regulations, expected to be adopted in 2026. These will cover carbon farming activities—such as agriculture, agroforestry, peatland rewetting and afforestation—and carbon storage in bio-based construction products. The measures are intended to support result-based payments for farmers and foresters and encourage circular bioeconomy practices in the construction sector.
To kick-start the voluntary market for CRCF credits, the Commission has announced an EU Buyers’ Club for permanent removals and carbon farming under the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy. It is also exploring ways to mobilise public and private finance and accelerate the scaling of carbon removal technologies, with support from instruments such as the European Innovation Council and the Innovation Fund.
The CRCF Regulation (Regulation 2024/3012) establishes the first EU-wide voluntary framework for certifying carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in bio-based construction products, implemented through delegated acts defining certification methodologies.
