EU Unveils Global Voluntary Standard for Permanent Carbon Removals

The European Commission adopted the world’s first voluntary standard for permanent carbon removals, marking a significant step toward harmonising fragmented global carbon markets and boosting confidence in carbon removal technologies. The new methodology framework was established under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation, first agreed in its provisional form by the European Parliament and EU Council in March 2024 and further shaped through regulatory processes.

The EU’s standard provides clear definitions and governance rules for what constitutes a verified tonne of permanently removed CO₂, along with criteria for permanence, liability, and leakage risk management. It initially covers technologies and approaches such as Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS), Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BioCCS), and biochar, which are considered sufficiently mature for early market deployment.

Wopke Hoekstra, European Commissioner for Climate, Net-Zero and Clean Growth, emphasised that setting robust voluntary standards not only strengthens internal EU climate policy but also creates a benchmark for international markets: “By establishing clear, robust voluntary standards, the EU is taking decisive action to lead global efforts in carbon removals,” he said, highlighting the importance of environmental integrity and credibility in climate action.

With the standard now in place, project developers can begin applying for EU certification later this year, enabling them to attract investment and support from corporate and institutional buyers navigating voluntary carbon markets.

The EU’s framework is expected to bolster transparency, reduce risks of greenwashing, and help align private finance with scientifically credible permanent removal solutions - a key element in long-term strategies to achieve net-zero emissions while shaping global carbon market practices.

A global voluntary standard for permanent carbon removals is what carbon-market credibility needs to survive the durability critique of nature-based credits, and it changes how corporate portfolios should be structured. Our climate-action and responsible-investment teams help clients evaluate CDR-linked procurement, portfolio design and disclosure alignment.