EU advances carbon removals and carbon farming market
- Over 500 stakeholders attended CRCF Days (20-21 May); CRCF Regulation nears full implementation and certification schemes can apply for EU recognition
- First methodologies adopted for permanent removals: BioCCS, DACCS and biochar
- EU Buyers' Club will aggregate corporate demand to de-risk investments, with potential offtake agreements expected by end of 2026
- Carbon farming methodologies for mineral soils, peatland rewetting and afforestation are in final adoption stages and a CRCF review linked to national targets is due end of 2026
Event and scope
CRCF Days (20–21 May) convened 500+ stakeholders as the CRCF Regulation moves to operational phase; certification schemes for removals can now apply for EU CRCF recognition and a guidance webinar was held on 1 June.
Permanent removals
First CRCF methodologies for permanent removals—BioCCS, DACCS and biochar—are adopted; the EU Buyers’ Club is set to aggregate corporate demand to de‑risk investments, with potential offtake agreements expected by end of 2026; scaling will rely on combined public and private financing (e.g., Innovation Fund, EIC, national state aid).
Carbon farming
Methodologies for mineral soils, peatland rewetting and afforestation are in final adoption stages to standardise carbon farming; a stakeholder survey closed 26 May. Scaling requires public‑private collaboration and mixed funding (Competitiveness Fund, CAP, national support) plus de‑risking mechanisms.
Finance, risk and next steps
Speakers highlighted need for innovative financing and guarantees—examples include the EU Fertilisers Action Plan call, a potential CRCF Facility or delivery/permanence guarantees—to boost investor confidence; a CRCF review assessing use for GHG Protocol and SBTi and proposals for national targets is due by end of 2026.
Source: European Commission
