The European Commission has adopted its first set of voluntary certification methodologies for permanent carbon removals under the EU’s Carbon Farming and Carbon Removals (CRCF) Regulation, establishing the bloc’s inaugural standard to define and validate activities that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.

The new methodologies cover three types of carbon removal activities — Direct Air Capture with Carbon Storage (DACCS), Biogenic Emissions Capture with Carbon Storage (BioCCS) and Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) — selected based on technological maturity and potential contribution to EU climate goals.

These voluntary standards set out legally grounded rules to define what constitutes a tonne of permanent removal, how permanence is ensured, and how key risks (including leakages and liability) are addressed. With the framework in place, projects in these categories can begin applying for EU certification, with the first certifications expected in the coming months.

The adopted delegated regulation will undergo a two-month scrutiny period by the European Parliament and Council; if not objected to, it will be published in the EU Official Journal in early April and enter into force 20 days later.

Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said the standard positions the EU to lead globally in carbon removals, providing clarity for investors and project developers. Industry stakeholders, including DACCS provider Climeworks, welcomed the move as ushering in a new era for carbon removal in Europe.

The Commission is also finalising additional certification methodologies for carbon farming activities — including agriculture, agroforestry, peatland rewetting and bio-based construction products — expected to be adopted later this year, further increasing the importance of EU-aligned ESG reporting and carbon disclosure requirements as companies and project developers prepare for certified carbon removal integration into sustainability reporting.