The CDR Policy Scoop

On 25 September, the European Commission convened its first Technical Workshop on Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) and Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) under the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming framework (CRCF). This marks the formal beginning of the journey toward EU recognition of these technologies.The context is clear: DACCS, BECCS, and biochar methodologies are soon settled, but permanent removals need more arrows in their quiver. The Commission is now turning to the next set of methods.Key questions remain wide open: – How mature is the science for robust MRV? – How will permanence, leakage, and environmental impacts be addressed? – What pace can we realistically expect for final CRCF methodologies for ERW and OAE?We’re delighted to be joined by Rachel Smith, Policy Director at Cascade Climate. Rachel has been at the forefront of shaping policy pathways for ERW, in particular, and will help us put the workshop discussions into perspective.Join in as co-host Eve Tamme dissects the details, challenges, and opportunities ahead with Rachel.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteRachel Smith: LinkedIn and Cascade ClimateReview papers on ERW and OEA for the workshopERW and OEA workshop recordingFrom Drawdown to Durable Storage: Understanding ERW in EU Carbon Removal PolicyCDR Primer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU’s 2040 Climate Target debate is heating up. At stake: whether to allow international carbon credits at all - and if so, how many and what kind.The European Union is split: some push to ban credits outright, while others want to allow plenty and as early as 2031. The current 3% proposal would mean up to 400 Mt of international credits by 2040.Such a volume could literally ignite whole industries across numerous countries, with all the benefits that can bring to local communities. But the concerns centre around whether it would water down the EU’s own climate action.Should the EU be allowing international credits, especially from the Global South, to achieve its climate targets? If so, should it focus on durable removals and be limited only for hard to hard-to-abate emissions?Co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart are delighted to be joined by Fiona Mugambi, Head of Growth & Partnerships at Octavia Carbon and Policy Lead at The Global South CDR Coalition. Fiona brings first-hand insights from Africa’s leading DAC initiative and a coalition that can shape debates in Brussels.Join in as Eve, Sebastian and Fiona unpack one of the hottest debates in EU climate policy right now.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteFiona Mugambi: LinkedIn and Octavia CarbonThe EU’s 2040 climate target proposalBreaking Down the EU’s 2040 Climate Target Proposal: What’s New and What’s Next?Power of Biochar - Documentary narrated by Sebastian on the Exomad Green story - a great example of Global South CDR. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Achieving the EU’s aspirational 2030 target of 5 MtCO₂-e  in permanent removals per year requires an €2.4–6.7 billion in investment. Fast forward to 2040, we’ll need to reach 75 Mt – or even as high as 280 Mt – according to Carbon Gap. The policy, funding, and market implications are enormous.A well-designed EU purchasing programme can have a significant impact on making it happen.Recently, the EU Commission released three (!) major reports charting the course for the forthcoming EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals. One of these reports provides an in-depth policy assessment and puts forward a policy blueprint for the programme, building on the spring workshop that we featured at CDR Policy Scoop back in May.We’re honoured to welcome our guest, Hugh McDonald, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institut and the lead author of the report. Hugh has unmatched insights to dissect all the details.Join in as co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart get the inside track on how the purchasing programme could be implemented.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteHugh McDonald: LinkedIn and Ecologic InstitutNew EU studies explore purchasing programme to boost permanent carbon removals in EuropeAn EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals. Assessment of policy options and recommendations for short-term policy designWorkshop: Perspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal CreditsCDR Policy Scoop - A European CDR Purchasing Programme (May 2025) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the end of August, the UK government released over 500 pages of documentation on how it plans to finance the scale-up of removals.There is a lot to talk about: the UK has committed over £22B to CCUS (including CDR) over 25 years, of which £9.4B has already been allocated in the 2025 Spending Review.It has also recently released its vision for how to integrate CDR into the UK ETS, potentially as early as 2029 (ahead of the EU).Now it suggests 15-year carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs) for BECCS and DACCS projects, as well as up to 50% of CAPEX support.We’re grateful to welcome Laura Hurley, an absolute UK policy pro, to unpack these news. In fact, she set up the UK’s first GGR policy team back in 2020.Join as co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart go deep on what could be the most ambitious CDR policies in Europe to date.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteLaura Hurley: LinkedInUK Greenhouse Gas Removals Business Model Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carbon rating agencies have increasingly become an indispensable pillar of carbon market infrastructure. While originally created to solve deep-seated quality and integrity concerns in the voluntary carbon markets, they are now also playing a role in compliance markets.What really goes into rating carbon removal projects, and what are the expected future developments? With the ICVCM establishing Core Carbon Principles eligibility for some CDR methods, will project-based ratings still be necessary?To help us untangle this, we’re excited to welcome Bojana Bajzelj, PhD, VP of Carbon Removal at BeZero Carbon, one of the leading carbon ratings agencies. She brings unique expertise on what makes a carbon credit truly credible in a rapidly changing landscape.Join as co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart get clarity on trust, quality, and the future of CDR in carbon markets. Tune in for sharp insights into the science and analysis that underpin ratings, as well as a candid discussion on the future of credit ratings.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteBojana Bajzelj: LinkedIn and BeZeroSwitzerland hires carbon ratings agency to assess ITMO integrity in wake of criticism over additionality Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scoop School is back in session.The second lesson: Who’s leading and who’s lagging in carbon removal (CDR) policy?Who’s getting it right, and who’s falling behind?What works in CDR policy design?Is it possible to replicate successes across borders?Yes, durable CDR policy is still in its early stages, but our in-depth looks at the UK, Switzerland, and Germany have proven there’s already a lot to discuss—and a lot others can learn from.Sebastian has been tracking these policy trends closely and will join Eve to unpack the best, the most ambitious, and the key lessons so far.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteCarbon Gap Policy Tracker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It may still be summer, but the new series, “Scoop School”, is now in session. First lesson: Carbon Removal Accounting. Which is not the same as MRV, and the lesson will get to that.Countries are facing new and urgent questions regarding how to account for removals, whether it's within the context of the Paris Agreement’s Crediting Mechanism PACM, the EU’s CRCF, or incorporating removals into emission trading systems. All of this has a tangible impact on which carbon removal methods can be scaled via compliance markets, and oftentimes comes as a surprise to those active exclusively in voluntary markets.The inaugural “Scoop School” lesson will cover:What types of removals are included in the national accountingWhich ones are notAnd which ones are in the grey zoneWhere are the blind spots? Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme as they delve into these questions and more to make sense of the current state of play.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteWill the Carbon Removal Certification Framework count in the race to climate neutrality?CDR and credibility: Unpacking reversal rules under Article 6.4 with Danny CullenwardReport of the IPCC Expert Meeting, 2024Draft outline of the Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture Utilization and StorageDiscussions on the IPCC Report on CO2 Removal/Carbon Capture to continue at next session Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe’s forests and soils have been acting as an indispensable cushion for our climate targets, currently offsetting around 6% of the EU’s GHG emissions. But the LULUCF sink - the EU’s natural carbon safety net - has dropped by 30% compared to the previous decade. Recent projections highlight a crucial gap between the climate target and the current sink.Is Europe’s land carbon sink slipping away? What will it take to bring it back? Can smart and innovative policy design turn the tide on the EU’s carbon sink? Enter Asger Strange Olesen, one of Europe’s leading voices on climate and land sector policy. He’s the Global Head of Climate and Biodiversity at the International Woodland Company and is heavily involved in the CRCF as an Independent Member of the EU Carbon Removal Expert Group.Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they learn from Asger the science behind the shrinking sink, explore current EU policy responses, and uncover the best CDR policy solutions to enhance land-based removals.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteAsger Strange Olesen: LinkedIn and MediumSupercharging Carbon Removal from the EU’s Land SectorDG CLIMA: EU Land Use Sector Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM, also known as the Article 6.4 mechanism) is going through another round of public consultations. One key document on the table is the draft standard on non-permanence/reversals, which has sparked a lot of questions.What are the options on the table? What does it mean for different types of carbon removal projects? How are the various documents up for public consultation via the Methodology Expert Panel and the PACM Supervisory Body connected?There is no better person to help with deciphering the content and process than Danny Cullenward, a member of the PACM Methodological Expert Panel. Co-author of the influential book “Making Climate Policy Work”, his research and advice have influenced the architecture of carbon markets globally. Danny speaks in his individual capacity and does not represent the MEP or the PACM at our live session.Join co-host Eve Tamme and Danny as they discusses the reversals standard under consideration, and what it means for building international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteDanny Cullenward: Bluesky and WebsitePACM draft standard on addressing non-permanence/reversalsPACM concept note on the applicability of removal guidance to emission reduction activities and vice versaPACM standard on requirements for activities involving removalsConsultation response by Perspective Climate ResearchCall for input - Draft Standard: Addressing non-permanence/reversals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve covered a lot of CDR policy developments in Europe and across the pond in the United States. But, truth be told, the UK is a bit of a blind spot for us.The UK’s Net-Zero Strategy was one of the first to establish an engineered Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR aka CDR) target. And only days before our scoop, the UK government has confirmed its plan to integrate removals into the UK ETS by 2029, with legislation targeted for 2028.Is the UK quietly and humbly leading the way in CDR? What will it take for it to truly become a global leader in carbon management?To help us better understand it all, we’re delighted to welcome special guest Ted Christie-Miller, co-founder of Residual. He’s shaped the UK’s conversation on CDR market frameworks and policy strategy.Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they learn from Ted about the UK’s CDR landscape, including the government’s approach to carbon markets and the expansion of the UK ETS, as well as the future outlook.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteTed Christie Miller: LinkedIn and ResidualUK Government response on Integrating Greenhouse Gas Removals in the UK Emissions Trading SchemeUK Government GGR Business Model Publication Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Like it or not, the “like-for-like” debate in carbon removal isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Conversations around temporary versus durable, conventional versus novel removals are increasingly diverging. Should carbon markets foresee separate roles for these removal types, or strive for a common ground that makes all removals comparable? Is true compatibility even possible?Co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are delighted to welcome Gabrielle Walker, co-founder of Rethinking Removals and CUR8, as their guest. Scientist-turned-CDR powerhouse, Gabrielle has a deep understanding and passion for these topics like no other. Join the conversation to find out what “like-for-like” really means, why it matters for policy and net-zero claims, and how to build integrity with today’s knowledge.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteGabrielle Walker: LinkedIn, CUR8, Rethinking RemovalsGeological Net Zero and the need for disaggregated accounting for carbon sinks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first methodologies for permanent removals under the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Regulation are being finalised.The European Commission’s 8th Carbon Removal Expert Group meeting, held on 10 July, was dedicated to a draft delegated act on DACCS, BioCCS, and biochar.Does this draft piece of legislation do justice to the CDR methods under consideration? Or does it fall short, and the Commission consultants should be sent back to the drawing board?Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme as they analyse the heated discussions in the expert group and the next steps.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteCarbon Removal Expert Group meeting on permanent removals, 10 July 2025 - agenda, slides, recording Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Not one week passes without news of major developments coming out of Germany: earlier in the year, Europe’s biggest economy became the first country in the world to enshrine a net-zero target (2045) into its constitution.Following the recent election, the ruling coalition then included carbon removal in its coalition treaty. More recently, a line dedicated to CDR was added to the federal budget and rumour has it that large sums of funding could soon be allocated to this as early as 2026.Could Germany become the global powerhouse for CDR? And what will it take exactly to get there?Co-host Eve Tamme discusses this and more with Nadine Walsh, the Policy Manager from the Deutscher Verband für negative Emissionen e.V. (DVNE) - Germany’s national CDR association.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteNadine Walsh: LinkedInDVNE: Website and LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A day after the European Commission published its legislative proposal for the EU’s 2040 climate target, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart sat down for a timely session to analyse the proposal.Although the expected 90% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 (compared to 1990 levels) is the headline target, several key elements in the proposal have elicited strong reactions among stakeholders.And what does it all mean for carbon removal?The CDR Policy Scoop co-hosts cut through the noise and analyse how the proposal could evolve during the upcoming negotiations.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteEU 2040 climate target proposalEve’s LinkedIn post on the EU’s 2040 climate target proposalEU climate chief lobbied Germany to back weakened 2040 goalThe EU’s 2040 Climate Target — context, scope and designWill the Carbon Removal Certification Framework count in the race to climate neutrality?Wijnand Stoefs (Carbon Market Watch) highly critical post on the proposal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This gets to the core of the carbon market debate.Reductions, including avoidance credits, currently account for over 95% of credits in the VCM. Meanwhile, removal credits are rapidly gaining momentum, with $6.5B in purchases to date, outpacing the growth of all other credit types.In the Reductions corner, no less than Renat Heuberger, CEO at Terra Impact Ventures and Founder / former CEO at South Pole, who has been at the forefront of the VCM for nearly two decades.In the Removals corner, the one and only Marta Krupinska, CEO at CUR8, and tireless champion for permanent carbon removals. From afforestation to biochar to DAC, Marta is leading the charge for all of CDR every day.The debate is expertly moderated by our co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme, who will ensure its punchy, informative, and fair. Disclaimer: This is intended to inform and engage, not divide. Both debaters agree: we need both reductions and removals to tackle the climate crisis.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteRenat Heuberger: LinkedIn, Terra Impact VenturesMarta Krupinska: LinkedIn, CUR8 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the world's first regulations to fight corporate greenwashing is on the final stretch. Or is it?The final trilogue, the negotiations between the three EU institutions, was pushed back to June 23rd but was ultimately cancelled. A push by the German government and the conservative EPP group in Parliament has led the policy process off the rails, with the European Commission considering withdrawing its proposal.Critics of the GCD highlight the increased complexity and costs for industry, which is already struggling across Europe. Proponents see it as an essential tool to help ensure companies back up environmental claims with scientifically sound measures.And what about CDR? If passed, the GCD could make the use of carbon removal a requirement, leading to significant demand.Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart will be joined by Elisabeth Harding, one of Brussels' finest CDR policy experts, to discuss the latest developments and next steps.Show notes:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteElisabeth Harding: LinkedInGreen Claims Directive proposalEU Commission announces withdrawal of Green Claims DirectiveWhy a little greenwashing law set off a political explosion in Brussels Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should the VCM shape or follow government policy?The Voluntary Carbon Market is at a crossroads as governments ramp up climate ambition and explore carbon markets.What would a genuine alignment between VCM and government policy look like? What are the risks and opportunities? How can the VCM support both national and global net-zero goals? To help us dig into these questions and more, we’re thrilled to welcome a leading voice in carbon markets and climate policy, Alexia Kelly from High Tide Foundation.Join as co-hosts Eve Tamme, Sebastian Manhart, and Alexia Kelly unpack the latest developments and spotlight some of the big questions. This is a discussion policymakers, market participants, and climate advocates won’t want to miss.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteAlexia Kelly: LinkedInThe Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Paris Agreement's carbon markets could be worth up to $250 billion annually and reduce or remove gigatons of CO2.But how do we operationalise it? How can countries start trading durable removals under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.2 mechanism?Norway and Switzerland have just agreed on the first durable removals transaction under this framework. For their pilots, planned to be executed pre-2030, they aim to transfer up to 10 Kt of BECCS from Norway and up to 1 Kt of mineralised CO2 from Switzerland.Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart are joined by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN’s Veronika Elgart, one of the leading forces behind this agreement. Together, they discuss how this agreement came about, what exactly is planned, and what this could mean for scaling up the international carbon markets more broadly.Show notes:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteVeronika Elgart: LinkedInAgreement between Norway and Switzerland on International CCS and NETPress releases: Norway-Switzerland, Switzerland, ClimeFi, Carbon Centric Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A European CDR Purchasing Programme for Permanent Carbon Removal?Sounds too good to be true? Well, it may become a reality soon.On May 21st, the European Commission held a dedicated workshop on “A Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits”.As stated in its own excellent pre-read, Europe will need to fund CDR with up to €6 billion by 2030 to achieve its indicative target of 5 Mt/year.But where should this money come from? How should a purchasing programme be designed? And should it fund specific CDR technologies or take a broad portfolio approach?These are just some of the many fascinating questions that were tackled in the workshop. Tune in for this CDR Policy Scoop, where Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart will analyse everything that happened and discuss the most important takeaways for you.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteThe workshop pre-read by Ecologic InstituteWorkshop presentation and recordingBlog by Robert Höglund and Aidan Preston Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many projects want to blend public funding with revenue from voluntary carbon markets as carbon removal scales up.Meanwhile, governments have different approaches to it. And sceptics keep questioning whether it makes sense in the first place - what about additionality, corresponding adjustments, and real climate impact?We’re excited to welcome Erik Rylander, the Head of CDR at Stockholm Exergi, to share his immense experience in innovative funding for their successful BECCS project. We will dig into the real-world lessons from Stockholm Exergi’s journey and explore what policymakers and project developers need to know to make this approach work.Erik joins CDR Policy Scoop co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart for an insightful and frank conversation on this controversial topic.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteErik Rylander: LinkedInBeccs StockholmCDR Accounting: Transparently structuring corporate claims to reconcile with national goalsWhen do sales of carbon removal credits benefit climate?Financing Engineered Carbon Removal — Combining Public Funding with Voluntary Carbon Markets Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.