The European Commission has officially adopted the first set of voluntary certification methodologies for permanent carbon removals under the Carbon Farming and Carbon Removals (CRCF) Regulation. This landmark decision marks the establishment of the first EU-level framework designed to quantify, monitor, and verify high-quality carbon removals. Among the initial three technologies selected for their technological maturity and potential to meet climate objectives is BiocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More Carbon Removal (BCR). By formalizing these standards, the Commission provides a clear regulatory pathway for the certification of carbon sequestered through biochar, facilitating much-needed investment and transparency within the European carbon market.

A significant hurdle for the carbon removal sector has been the lack of harmonized standards, which often led to concerns regarding greenwashing and the environmental integrity of credits. Previously, the absence of a unified definition for what constitutes a “tonne of removal” or a standardized method for ensuring permanence created market uncertainty. Investors and buyers faced risks related to leakages and liabilities, as there were no enforceable EU-wide rules to guarantee that atmospheric carbon was being stored for several centuries. This fragmentation hindered the scaling of biochar projects, as developers struggled to provide the level of assurance required by international climate finance and corporate buyers.

To resolve these challenges, the new delegated regulation establishes rigorous, voluntary rules for certification that align with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) definitions. The methodology for biochar specifically addresses permanence, requiring that carbon be stored for several centuries to qualify as a permanent removal. The framework also introduces mandatory third-party verification and a centralized EU-wide registry to ensure full traceability and prevent double counting. By selecting biochar as one of the inaugural technologies, the Commission has prioritized solutions that demonstrate immediate scalability and robust measurement capabilities, thereby de-risking the sector for both buyers and investors.

The implementation of these standards is expected to catalyze a new era for the biochar industry across the European Union. With the certification framework now in place, biochar projects can begin the application process for EU-certified units in the coming months, with the first projects anticipated to be certified shortly. Wopke Hoekstra, the European Commissioner for Climate, noted that these robust standards position the EU as a global leader in carbon removal policy. Furthermore, industry leaders suggest that this regulatory blueprint will serve as a foundation for a more reliable global carbon market, ultimately driving the large-scale deployment of biochar to help achieve the Union’s 2050 climate neutrality goals.