The CDR Policy Scoop

In this episode of The CDR Policy Scoop, Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are joined by Robert Höglund, Manager of the Milkywire Climate Transformation Fund and co-founder of CDR.fyi, to unpack a new way of thinking about corporate net-zero targets.Recorded in early February, the conversation explores Robert’s proposal for conditional net-zero targets - a framework that distinguishes between emissions companies can realistically control and those that depend on broader systemic change. The discussion examines why today’s net-zero paradigm often obscures these realities, particularly for hard-to-abate sectors, and how this lack of clarity risks undermining credibility and action.The episode dives into the practical challenges of operationalising conditional targets, including questions of agency, financial feasibility, governance, and accountability. Sebastian and Eve probe whether this approach simplifies or complicates an already crowded standards landscape, and whether it risks creating loopholes - or instead forces companies to be more honest about what reaching net zero actually requires.The discussion also explores how this reframing could affect near-term demand for carbon removal, particularly through operational net-zero claims for Scope 1, Scope 2, and business travel, and whether conditional targets could unlock more realistic and durable corporate engagement with removals over the next decade.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteRobert Höglund: LinkedIn, Website and Substack on this topic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The CDR Policy Scoop, Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are joined by Josh Becker, California State Senator representing Silicon Valley, to discuss the future of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) policy in California.Recorded live on Presidents’ Day, the conversation explores how California quantified its carbon removal needs - 7 million tons by 2030 and 75 million tons by 2045 - and what it will actually take to deliver on those targets.The episode dives into the legislative history of SB 308 (Carbon Dioxide Removal Market Development Act) and subsequent efforts to establish quality standards for removals, including durability and additionality requirements. Senator Becker explains the political challenges of designing compliance mechanisms, aligning with California’s Cap-and-Invest system, and navigating tensions between the legislature, regulatory agencies, and the Governor’s office.Sebastian and Eve also explore the implications of recent bills - including funding through California’s climate innovation programs and new mandates for developing CDR protocols - and what they mean for integrating removals into compliance markets. The discussion touches on voluntary market demand, infrastructure enablers such as CO₂ pipelines, and how California can attract private investment amid federal headwinds.The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on what policymakers globally can learn from California’s experience: focus on quality standards, clarify who pays, and build durable political coalitions to scale carbon removal alongside deep emissions reductions.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteSenator Josh Becker: LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The CDR Policy Scoop, Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are joined by Jannick Buhl, Head of CCUS, CDR and Biomass at the Danish District Heating Association, to unpack what happened in Denmark’s highly anticipated CCS subsidy tender.Recorded in early February, the conversation examines why nine out of ten pre-qualified bidders withdrew from a tender worth nearly €4 billion, leaving just two final applications. Jannick explains why Denmark’s approach - requiring bidders to take responsibility for the entire CCS value chain, from capture to transport to storage - proved too risky for most projects under the current market conditionsThe episode dives into the key bottlenecks behind the withdrawals, including limited access to CO₂ storage, strict delivery timelines tied to Denmark’s 2030 climate target, and heavy penalties for delays. The discussion explores why Aalborg Portland, Denmark’s largest emitter, was still able to submit a bid, and what assumptions it is making around onshore storage availability.Sebastian, Eve, and Jannick also examine broader lessons for governments designing CCS and CDR funding schemes: whether tenders should cover the full value chain or be broken into separate components, how much delivery risk the state should absorb, and how tight climate deadlines can unintentionally undermine project development.The episode concludes with a forward-looking discussion on what Denmark might do next, how withdrawn projects could be revived under different tender designs, and what other countries can learn from Denmark’s experience as they roll out large-scale CCS and CDR support mechanisms.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicJannick Buhl: LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany is emerging as one of Europe’s most active carbon removal markets - with new public funding, a growing startup ecosystem, and heavy industry exploring large-scale CDR. But can policy, infrastructure, and demand keep pace with ambition?In this special episode, Sebastian Manhart shares insights from a two-day CDR experience tour across Germany, featuring conversations with policymakers, researchers, startups, and industry leaders. The episode explores Germany’s carbon removal potential, the key barriers to scale, and what governments can do now to de-risk projects and unlock investment.From public procurement and contracts for difference to compliance markets and infrastructure, this episode looks ahead to where Germany’s CDR strategy is heading in 2026 and beyond.Links:Eve Tamme:  LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website Oscar Schily: LinkedInTank Chen: LinkedInTony Oehm: LinkedInFlorian Hildebrand: LinkedInManuel Wessel: LinkedInStefan Schlosser: LinkedIn Saskia Kühnhold-Popischil: LinkedInJulian Joswig: LinkedInSascha van Beek: LinkedInDVNE Experience TourCarbon Gap: Germany Carbon Removal Readiness Assessment (report) - to be released; launch event hereEU ETSGerman Federal Government – Carbon Management Strategy (CO₂ transport & storage framework Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) handle carbon price paid abroad, and what does that mean for carbon removal and international carbon markets?The European Commission is now working on detailed rules for deducting a carbon price paid in third countries, including how carbon credits under compliance schemes and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement might be taken into account. The stakes for CBAM’s global impact just got much higher.This CDR Policy Scoop episode unpacks what this new direction could mean in practice: from the principle of equivalence, to the role of Article 6. This new direction has attracted varied reactions to date. What’s the outlook?To navigate this evolving landscape, we’re once again joined by leading CBAM expert Dan Maleski from Redshaw Advisors, bringing frontline insight on how policymakers and market participants are preparing for the next phase.Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme for another fast-paced 30‑minute session that connects the dots between EU trade policy, carbon markets, and carbon removal.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicDan Maleski: LinkedIn - post 1 and post 2 on this topicThe European Commission CBAM websiteThe European Commission report on the application of CBAM Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The CDR Policy Scoop, Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme sit down for a second time with Alexia Kelly, Managing Director of the Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative at the High Tide Foundation, to unpack today’s messy carbon market governance landscape and what it really means for carbon removal.Over the past few years, carbon markets have been flooded with new initiatives, standards, and coalitions, most of them aimed at the supply side. The result: overlapping frameworks, lots of noise, and real confusion for buyers and CDR actors trying to understand what actually matters, while demand stubbornly lags behind.This episode explores which pieces of the governance architecture are genuinely useful (think ICVCM, VCMI, SBTi and more), where they are falling short, and how this affects the future of carbon removals. We also ask what it would take to move from proliferation to coherence, and why the next few years could be make‑or‑break for building carbon markets that are both high‑integrity and fit to finance CDR at scale.Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteAlexia Kelly: LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The CDR Policy Scoop, Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are joined by Amir Lebdioui, Director of the TIDE Centre at the University of Oxford, to explore whether durable carbon dioxide removal can become a credible green industrialisation pathway for the Global South.Recorded on January 19, the conversation builds on a recent working paper authored by Sebastian Manhart and Raphael Cario in collaboration with the TIDE Centre examining how carbon removal could move beyond a niche climate instrument and instead support jobs, exports, and long-term economic development in developing economies. Amir explains why environmental policy alone often fails, and why climate action must be embedded in green industrial policy to deliver real livelihoods and political durability.The episode dives into the concept of green windows of opportunity, what Global South countries can learn from past green industrialisation efforts, and how CDR differs from earlier sectors like renewables or green hydrogen. The discussion also tackles key risks, including extractive development models, over-reliance on imported technology, and dependence on a narrow set of buyers in the Global North.Together, the hosts unpack what it would actually take for CDR to support local value creation—from capability building and regulation to demand creation and export strategy—and why getting this right matters not just for climate outcomes, but for development, equity, and long-term political support for climate action.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteAmir Lebdioui: LinkedInOxford Tide Center: WebsiteOxford Tide Center Working Paper: Overlooked Industrialisation Opportunity: How the Global South can Leverage CDR[Re]Moving on Up—Can developing countries be a powerhouse for contributing engineered removals towards net zero goals? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The CDR Policy Scoop, Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are joined by Sophie Wenger, Climate Policy Officer at the Federal Office for the Environment, for a deep dive into Switzerland’s approach to scaling carbon capture and removal.Recorded on January 12, the conversation explores how Switzerland is developing a holistic strategy for CCS and CDR, with a strong focus on CO₂ transport infrastructure as the key enabler for scale. Sophie explains why transport is often the missing link in national CDR strategies and why getting regulation right is both technically and politically challenging.The episode also unpacks the main regulatory sticking points around CO₂ transport in Switzerland, what lessons other countries can draw from the Swiss experience, and how infrastructure planning, cross-border cooperation, and long-term climate targets need to align to unlock durable removals at scale.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteSophie Wenger: LinkedInSwiss legal framework for CCS/CDRCarbonfuture Switzerland CDR Policy Brief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What is The CDR Policy Scoop really about and how did it come to be?In this special episode, the microphones are turned around. Producer Helen Lundebye steps out from behind the scenes and interviews co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart about the origins, evolution, and future of The Scoop.The conversation traces the show’s beginnings: from informal conversations and early LinkedIn Lives to more than 50 episodes covering carbon removal policy across jurisdictions. Eve and Sebastian reflect on why they deliberately chose an unscripted, conversational format, their shared frustration with traditional webinars, and the idea of “just showing up” as the core DNA of the show.They also unpack how their different backgrounds shape the discussions: Eve’s long-standing expertise in carbon markets and EU policy design, and Sebastian’s focus on country-level developments, data, and system-building. Together, these perspectives have shaped a niche but influential platform aimed squarely at policymakers and those working closely with them.Finally, the conversation looks ahead: new formats, new platforms, more experimentation, and a clear ambition to bring even more policymakers directly into the conversation.A candid, reflective episode about building trust, depth, and continuity in climate policy conversations and the people behind The Scoop who make it happen.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteHelen Lundebye: LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone agrees that the next phase of carbon removal will be shaped by policy, but which decisions will actually matter in 2026?Recorded in mid-December 2025, this forward-looking episode sees Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart each bring their top policy developments to watch in the year ahead.The discussion spans EU-level milestones like ETS integration and CRCF certification, country-level signals such as public procurement of removals, and broader governance questions around international credits, infrastructure, and buyer confidence.What will send credible signals to investors? Where are expectations misaligned? And which developments are likely to shape demand, even before they formally come into force?A sharp, nuanced outlook on why 2026 may be a pivotal year for carbon removal policy  and where the real uncertainty still lies.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025 was a year of real progress for carbon removal, but also one that exposed the limits of existing frameworks.In this end-of-year retrospective, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart look back at the policy moments that most shaped carbon removal over the past twelve months. Each brings their own highs and lows to the table, reflecting different lenses on EU, international, and national developments.From the EU’s 2040 target and CRCF progress, to setbacks around voluntary initiatives, green claims, and US climate policy. The episode unpacks what moved the field forward, what disappointed, and what lessons should carry into 2026.A clear-eyed assessment of a mixed but ultimately forward-moving year for CDR policy and why the foundations laid in 2025 will matter well beyond it.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everyone agrees that carbon removal needs more buyers - but what will actually make that happen?At Carbon Unbound Europe (21–22 October), co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart took the conversation offline and recorded a special set of in-person interviews exploring how buyers see the evolving CDR policy and market landscape.What’s working? Where are the challenges? And what do today’s buyers really want from policymakers?Tune in for candid insights and fresh perspectives from the people shaping demand for carbon removal.Guests for the episode include:Robert Höglund, Co-Founder of CDR.fyi and Manager of the Milkywire Climate Transformation FundLamé Verre, Director, Net Zero, The Crown EstateChis Minter, Head of Supply Chain Sustainability, Zurich Insurance GroupAdina Braha-Honciuc, Environmental Sustainability Policy Director, Schneider ElectricLinks:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteRobert Höglund: LinkedIn, Website and CDR.fyiLamé Verre: LinkedIn and The Crown EstateChris Minter: LinkedIn and Zurich Insurance GroupAdina Braha-Honciuc: LinkedIn and Schneider Electric Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU is preparing to allow the use of international carbon credits towards its 2040 target, a major policy shift. At the same time, the EU is also establishing a domestic carbon crediting scheme: the CRCF.But this raises some important questions:▪️ What kinds of credits should be eligible? ▪️ How can the EU ensure integrity when engaging in international credits?▪️ How do the PACM and the CRCF compare in terms of integrity?To unpack what this all means in practice - from the design of the rules to which credit types could qualify - co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart chat with the brilliant Lambert Schneider, Research Coordinator for International Climate Policy at Oeko-Institut, and a climate policy veteran.Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteLambert Schneider: LinkedIn and Oeko-Institut2040 Climate Target ProposalThe Council of the EU's negotiating mandate on the EU’s 2040 Climate TargetEU’s 2035 NDCRevised methodologies under the EU Carbon Certification Removal Framework continue to lack integrity Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The European Commission has started fleshing out an EU Buyers’ Club to jump‑start demand for high‑quality CRCF credits in the voluntary market. The first closed‑door workshop took place in Brussels on 4th of December, with a series of follow‑up meetings planned over the next six months.In this episode, we speak with Robert Höglund, co‑founder of CDR.fyi and manager of the Milkywire Climate Transformation Fund, who took part in the Brussels workshop. He shares what was discussed in the room, what the emerging model for the Buyers’ Club looks like, and where the biggest political, technical and market hurdles lie.Join co‑hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart for an inside look at the state of play, what needs to happen next, and why turning the Buyers’ Club from concept into a functioning EU demand engine within the next five years will be anything but straightforward.Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteRobert Höglund: LinkedIn and WebsiteCommission adopts rules and launches initiatives to boost carbon removals and carbon farming in the EU, including the EU Buyers’ ClubA Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU BioeconomyCDR Policy Scoop - A European CDR Purchasing ProgrammeCDR Policy Scoop - How Far Can the EU’s Market-Shaping Purchasing Programme Go? – with Hugh McDonaldWorld Economic Forum First Movers CoalitionAn EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals. Assessment of policy options and recommendations for short-term policy design Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COP30 is behind us with two weeks of intense negotiations, pledges, and a full Action Agenda. But now comes the REAL question: Did any of it *actually* move the needle for CDR?From political signals, to a mix of announcements, to the outcomes of different negotiation tracks, what does COP30 mean for the future of carbon removal deployment and governance?To unpack it all, we’re thrilled to welcome back Christopher Neidl, Carbon Removal Lead with the Climate High-Level Champions. Chris was deeply embedded in the action at Belém and shares fresh insights from the ground.Join Eve Tamme, our co-host, who keenly followed the negotiations, and Sebastian Manhart for this post‑COP debrief with Chris as we analyse the outcomes, surprises, and lessons for the global CDR community. Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicChris Neidl: LinkedIn and High-Level Climate ChampionsCOP30 Action Agenda on Climate Champions website and Brazilian COP30 Presidency websiteIntroducing the CDR Mutirão: A New Era of Collaboration for Carbon Dioxide Removal Launches at COP30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COP30 is in full swing, and carbon removal is drawing unprecedented attention. For the first time, the Global Carbon Dioxide Removal Initiative (CDR30) has launched a dedicated CDR Pavilion in the COP Blue Zone.Bringing together more than 60 organisations across the global CDR ecosystem, CDR30 represents a united community with a shared goal: to highlight CDR’s essential role in achieving global climate targets.But what impact has the pavilion had so far? How is it helping to mainstream CDR within the COP process and beyond? And what does success ultimately look like?In this episode, co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart speak with Chris Sherwood, Secretary General of the Negative Emissions Platform, and one of the driving forces behind the CDR30 and its CDR Pavilion. Together, they unpack how this initiative is shaping the conversation and action on CDR at COP30.Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and WebsiteSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and WebsiteChris Sherwood: LinkedIn and Negative Emissions PlatformCDR30CDR Pavilion at COP30COP30 - A Breakthrough Moment for Carbon Removal? - with Chris NeidlGuardian article during COP on the importance of CDR Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The SBTi has just published its second draft of the Net-Zero Standard v2 with important developments on carbon removals, and ISO is developing its own Net-Zero Standard. These parallel processes are already causing quite a stir across the climate and business communities. Do we really need another standard? Will ISO’s approach move the needle or add to the confusion? What will be the impact of both standards on carbon removals?To help us get to the bottom of this, we’re delighted to welcome Dr Mai Bui, Director of Climate Science at Supercritical and an Expert Working Group Member on carbon removals for the Science Based Targets initiative. Mai will help us dig into what the new ISO standard could mean for the net-zero landscape.Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart in the discussion with Mai to cut through the headlines and get clarity on what’s changing for net-zero strategies, target setting and reporting.Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicMai Bui: LinkedInSBTi draft Net-Zero Standard V2 second public consultationISO Net Zero Standard and GuidelinesRobert Höglund’s take on the latest SBTi draftLukas May’s take on the latest SBTi draft Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What a whirlwind it has been in Europe.Over the last few days, we have seen the Council of the EU and the European Parliament's ENVI Committee agree on their positions on the EU 2040 Climate Target negotiations. From huge amounts of international credits, to a clear mandate for CDR, to a range of vague clauses: there is lots to unpack.Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen travelled to COP30 with a 2035 NDC for the European Union. And, finally, the EU Commission held yet another Carbon Removals Expert Group meeting: we are so, so close to the first methodologies / delegated act for permanent removals being adopted.Tune in for Eve’s and Sebastian's take on all these exciting developments.Eve Tamme:LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicThe Council of the EU's negotiating mandate on the EU’s 2040 Climate TargetEU’s 2035 NDCRecording: 9th meeting of the European Commission’s Carbon Removal Expert Group Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s that time of year again - COP30 is just around the corner. This year in Belém, Brazil, CDR has stepped up its game and will have its first-ever CDR Pavilion in the blue zone. This was made possible by CDR30, the Global Carbon Dioxide Removal Initiative, consisting of a unified global CDR community of over 60 organisations across the ecosystem. Their mission: elevating CDR’s essential role in climate action at COP30.A physical presence and strong coalition are a signal that carbon removal is finally stepping into the major leagues. But after years of questions about the role of carbon removal in the formal COP agenda, where exactly do we stand? What can we expect and hope for? That’s why we’re delighted to welcome Chris Neidl, Carbon Removal Lead with the High-Level Climate Champions. Among many other things, Chris has been working tirelessly to build support for carbon removal in the programming at COP.Join co-host Eve Tamme as she discusses with Chris what COP30 could mean for CDR and gains exclusive insights from the behind-the-scenes preparations.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicChris Neidl: LinkedIn and High-Level Climate ChampionsCOP30 Action Agenda on Climate Champions website and Brazilian COP30 Presidency websiteCDR30CDR Pavilion at COP30 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We all know that climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation, and for many of us, it’s our life’s work. If you’re like us, you spend most of your reading time on non-fiction - whether that’s endless reports, briefs, news, and feeds. We have a refreshing new way to digest some of the heaviest topics in this climate fight. The Carbon Paradox is a fictional book based on facts. Along the way, the characters meet 25 paradoxical issues, which cover the entire controversy from carbon credits to climate finance. And learn why carbon markets will never be perfect.We’re delighted to uncover some of these paradoxes with author Renat Heuberger, CEO at Terra Impact Ventures. Renat is a Swiss climate activist, serial entrepreneur, and impact investor who has spent two decades at the forefront of the VCM. Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they dive into some of their favourite climate paradoxes with Renat.Links:Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicSebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website - post on this topicRenat Heuberger: LinkedIn and Terra Impact Ventures - book launch videoCarbon Paradox BlogCarbon Paradox Book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.