On 19 November 2024, the Council of the European Union gave the final green light to a regulation establishing the first EU-level certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products.

The framework, which is voluntary, will help the EU to achieve its goal of climate neutrality by 2050, facilitating and encouraging high-quality carbon removal and soil emission reduction activities as a complement to sustained emissions reductions.

In time, a comprehensive certification framework for carbon removals and soil emission reductions will be introduced into EU legislation.

The Council of the European Union (often referred to simply as ‘the Council’) is a key EU decision-maker which brings together the ministers of the 27 EU countries.

The Council negotiates and adopts EU legislation and coordinates certain policies. It also:

• adopts the EU budget
• concludes international agreements on behalf of the EU
• develops the EU’s foreign and security policy

Read the full press release here.