On this page you will find all the information you need to participate in the 2nd phase of the Co2ol Down project.
If you have any questions, you can contact us by e-mail at any time.
To successfully tackle climate change, urgent and ambitious emissions reductions remain critical. Complementing this, there is a need to support the development of a sustainable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) capacity to balance out limited residual emissions and achieve net negativity.
In the EU currently, financing for removals is focused on the voluntary carbon market and potential expansion of the EU Emissions Trading System. Both options can cause mitigation deterrence and distract from solutions with fewer risks to climate integrity and that might be more effective for testing and scaling-up high quality CDR.
Building on, but not limited to, the results of CO2ol Down phase one, CMW is reconvening partners for a collaborative process to design and refine compliance funding mechanisms for permanent CDR.
Although this second phase will primarily focus on compliance mechanisms for permanent removals, we are open to allocating part of the discussion to assessing whether the considered instruments can also support important, yet likely more vulnerable, biogenic sequestration processes.
Incentivising nature protection and restoration activities remains of urgent importance and requires dedicated efforts and solutions to be introduced by policymakers.
Removals should not be used as a replacement for emissions reductions, and funding for CDR should therefore not impede accelerating investments of drastic emissions reductions.
The EU should separate the targets for emissions reduction, land-based sequestration and permanent removals.
This process will only consider alternatives to the integration of CDR in the EU Emissions Trading System.
Over 30 experts from academia, civil society, and industry have already been invited to meet at two in-person workshops in Brussels to discuss potential EU compliance instruments to finance permanent removals.
The result will be proposals to present to policymakers, which have been collectively formed through the diverse input of all involved.
Between and following the workshops, an editorial board will consolidate the proposals and share them with the group for feedback and approval.
In joining the co-creation process, participants commit to actively engage in the collaborative process with openness, curiosity and creativity, and share ownership of the results.
The aim of phase 2 is to present to policymakers the key elements of potential EU compliance instruments to finance permanent removals.
In joining the co-creation process, participants commit to actively engage in a collaborative process to shape policy outcomes that reflect shared understanding and collective expertise. The final results will be co-owned by all involved and presented as a product of a joint effort.
While we will strive to create a positive environment to foster collaboration, we acknowledge that some differing perspectives may arise. If necessary, key objections will be identified and reflected in the final documents.
The goal of this co-creation process is not compromise, but collaboration. This means developing something meaningful together by drawing on the diverse perspectives and expertise of all participants. We aim to develop original and impactful recommendations that reflect the richness of our diverging viewpoints.
For this to happen, we encourage participants to stay engaged, listen actively, and look for ways to integrate ideas rather than focus on disagreement. While we may not always align on everything, the strength of this process lies in the ability to work out solutions collaboratively that are greater than participants’ individual contributions.
Participants should approach each workshop with openness, curiosity, and creativity. In this way, we will be able to create solutions which are both inclusive and innovative.
CMW is convening experts from academia, civil society, and industry, selected for their knowledge of and direct interest in financing permanent carbon removals.
All Phase 1 invitees – including those who were unable to participate – will be invited to participate in phase 2. However, to ensure productivity and efficient use of resources, a smaller core group of around 30 participants will be selected to take part in the workshops and co-draft the recommendations.
Selection will be based on:
Those not selected for direct participation in the workshops will still be able to provide feedback to and support the draft conclusions and proposals following the workshops.
Participants will work together during two full-day (9.30am to 4.30pm) co-creation workshops, with some communication and organisational work in between. The workshops will be held in person in Brussels.
Between and following the workshops, an editorial board will consolidate proposals. The editorial board will consist of three individuals drawn from CMW and Dreamocracy, which will form the secretariat that produces initial draft conclusions and recommendations, plus three volunteers drawn from the participants of Phase 2.
The editorial board will work together online between and after the workshops. They will share the draft conclusions of Workshop 1 for comment prior to Workshop 2, and the draft recommendations resulting from Workshop 2. All participants will be invited to comment on and suggest amendments to the final documents facilitated by the editorial board.
The deadline for applications is May 2.
After the selection process, the list of participants will be announced on May 6.
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