The EU Parliament approves the Carbon Removal Certification Framework

With 448 votes in favour, 65 against and 114 abstentions on 21 November, the European Parliament approved the first voluntary certification framework for carbon removals at the European level.

The framework establishes monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) rules to ensure the high quality of carbon removals while countering greenwashing: communication or marketing strategies that present their activities as environmentally sustainable while, in reality, concealing their negative environmental impact.

This scheme, therefore, aims to complement – and not replace – Europe’s unavoidable commitments to reduce greenhouse gases, contributing to the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 (European Climate Act).

With this instrument, Europe aims to facilitate and accelerate the deployment of carbon sequestration projects, promoting transparency and building trust among stakeholders. The scheme must align with international standards, and a publicly accessible European registry will be set up to avoid the risk of fraud and double counting.

Among the activities covered by the legislation, we can distinguish three macro-categories, differing in the permanence of carbon stored and co-benefits generated:

•  “Carbon Removal” for geological storage
•  “Carbon Farming” for agriculture and forestry activities
• “Carbon Storage in Product” for long-lasting timber products

Some issues remain open

The European Parliament’s vote follows the agreement the EU Member States reached on 17 November, making it now possible to start negotiations to finalise the law.

However, some issues remain open. The role and requirements that apply to the forestry sector (and even less to the agroforestry sector) must be better defined, with concrete consequences on the incentive to channel potential resources and support responsible management. In addition, it needs to be clarified how existing national schemes can register and find a place in the emerging European system.

There is, therefore, still a long way to go, but Etifor is already striving to give its contribution. One example is the LIFE ClimatePositive project, developed together with the partners CREA, University of Padua, FSC, Lombardy Region, Municipality of Luvinate, Walden, ERSAF and ETICAE, which is proposed as an empirical tool for the application and refinement of a transparent and high-quality carbon credit certification system on a national scale, serving as a testing ground for the future European regulation.

New developments: adoption of the first Implementing Regulation (November 2025)

In November 2025, the European Commission adopted the first Implementing Regulation to operationalise the EU certification framework for carbon removals and carbon farming (CRCF). Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/2358 introduces new transparency standards for certification schemes, sets out the rules for the appointment and supervision of certification bodies, and defines procedures for audit processes.

Key measures include minimum requirements for publishing information on the governance and operation of certification schemes, pending the full availability of all information on the Union Registry by 2028. Certification schemes must also establish internal monitoring systems, conduct mandatory public consultations, and implement complaint-handling procedures. In the event of non-compliance — including inaccuracies in greenhouse gas data — timely corrective and enforcement measures will apply. The Regulation also introduces the possibility of group auditing for carbon farming, an important step towards reducing administrative burdens for small-scale farmers and forest owners.

This Regulation, together with the forthcoming Delegated Acts that will define tailored certification methodologies for each type of activity, represents another step towards the full operationalisation of the CRCF. Harmonising rules across Europe marks a decisive moment for the carbon credit market, strengthening the quality of initiatives and addressing many of the challenges faced during the development of the voluntary market. It will be essential for the new Italian national scheme to align immediately with the European framework to avoid the creation of two parallel and uncoordinated markets.

New developments: adoption of the first Implementing Regulation (November 2025)

This new regulation is part of the broader set of initiatives under the renewed European Bioeconomy Strategy, including the EU Buyers’ Club, the EU Carbon Farming Database, and the European methodology for assessing carbon storage in buildings (Carbon Storage in Buildings), expected in 2026. This methodology will enable building owners to demonstrate the climate performance of their properties, encouraging the use of low-emission materials and circular economy principles in the construction sector.

The regulation will directly affect activities such as afforestation, restoration of degraded forests, improved forest management, as well as the entire wood value chain. In this context, Etifor is involved in the WOOD4LIFE project, which aims to engage key actors along the forest value chain and propose tools and business models to reactivate the sector. The project strengthens the crucial role of forests in climate mitigation through carbon sequestration and by providing renewable, durable, and low-emission materials in line with the European Carbon Farming initiative.