The establishment of a framework for the certification of carbon removals in the EU has moved one step closer as environment MEPs endorsed the provisional deal reached last month.
The environment committee of the European Parliament voted in favour of the provisional agreement on certifying carbon removals, including through carbon farming.
The provisional agreement reached between the Council of the EU and the parliament was endorsed by MEPs by 56 votes to 19, and five abstentions last night (Monday, March 11).
Certification of carbon removals
Last month, the council said that the agreement “maintains an open definition of carbon removals”, which includes carbon farming.
Carbon farming activities recognised in the agreed regulation include temporary carbon storage, e.g., by restoring forests and soil and wetland management.
Soil emissions reductions, which include carbon and nitrous oxide reductions from soil management, and wetland management are also recognised carbon farming activities.
However, these activities must be ongoing for at least five years before they are certified under the regulation, and must not lead to land being acquired for “speculative purposes”.
Activities that do not directly result in carbon removals or soil emissions reductions, such as avoided deforestation or renewable energy projects, are not covered by the regulation.
The provisional agreement still has to be approved by the full council and the full parliament before it is finally adopted.
European farmers
Despite having backed the establishment of this framework, Copa Cogeca, the umbrella group of EU farm organisations, said the compromise text agreed is “not flawless”.
While soil emissions reductions are recognised carbon farming activities, the organisation said the text “fails” to recognise the importance of livestock management practices.
Copa Cogeca criticised that the inclusion of methane reductions will only be considered in 2026 which, the group said, “makes no sense” for livestock farms already involved in carbon farming.
This deal “fails” to recognise synergies between livestock farming and land management practices capable of capturing carbon and enhancing alternative energy sources, the group said.
The council and the parliament also agreed that a carbon farming activity must always generate at least a biodiversity “co-benefit”.
The group representing EU farm organisations said co-benefits for biodiversity due to carbon farming activities should be considered as additional benefits, not “mandatory requirements”.