Sunset over peatland

EU’s Carbon Removals Certification Framework is certifiably problematic

by Wijnand StoefsCarbon dioxide removals, Land use and forestryPosted on Comments are Disabled

Alarm bells for the climate were set off last week by a leak of the European Commission’s proposal for a Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF). The draft leaves many important questions unanswered and vital issues unaddressed, and could usher in an era of greenwashed and money-wasting carbon removals.  On 30 November, the European Commission is …

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Scale vs integrity: The impossibility of developing a large market of high quality carbon offsets

by Gilles DufrasneCorporate climate responsibility, Global markets, Land use and forestryPosted on Comments are Disabled

Voluntary carbon market standards promising tonne-for-tonne compensation and exact measurement of impact are attempting to square the circle, argues Gilles Dufrasne. One solution is to drop offsetting claims and offer credits as financial contributions to climate action. Last week marked the closing of the public consultation on quality criteria for carbon credits by a new …

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EU member states’ haphazard approach to carbon removals puts climate goals and nature at risk

by Wijnand StoefsCarbon dioxide removals, Land use and forestry, National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

National governments in the European Union are botching their planning of carbon removals. This lack of strategic thinking and focus on false solutions threatens the climate and biodiversity, a new study reveals. To avoid this, they must develop a clear vision of what carbon removals can achieve and focus primarily on lowering emissions. While carbon …

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July newsletter editorial: Keeping hope alive for 1.5

by Sabine Frank2050 climate strategies, Carbon dioxide removals, Decarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, Global markets, Land use and forestry, Sustainable development, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

The EU’s recent failure to rise to the unprecedented challenge presented by the climate emergency should not lead us down the path to cynicism but must prod us to redouble our efforts to bring about meaningful change, writes Sabine Frank. “So, how do you know Y (the host)?” I asked at a recent party.  “We …

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Inching forward on UN carbon market rules: our takeaways from the Bonn climate conference

by Jonathan Crook2050 climate strategies, Global markets, Land use and forestryPosted on Comments are Disabled

Two weeks of negotiations show governments are keen to get global carbon market mechanisms up and running, but much work lies ahead to ensure transparency, environmental integrity and respect for human rights.  The most recent UN climate change conference wrapped on Thursday, concluding two weeks of negotiations on a number of subjects including the implementation …

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UN carbon market negotiations in Bonn must pave way to effective COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh

by Jonathan Crook2050 climate strategies, Carbon dioxide removals, Global markets, Human rights in climate action, Land use and forestry, Sustainable developmentPosted on Comments are Disabled

Negotiators must prioritise human rights, transparency and environmental integrity as they hammer out the framework for carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The intersession of the UN climate change conference, where Carbon Market Watch will be present throughout, kicked off in Bonn, today, Monday 6 June, and will last through Thursday 16 …

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Carbon removals are no substitute for deep emissions reductions, warns IPCC

by Wijnand StoefsCarbon dioxide removals, Decarbonising European industry, EU carbon market, Land use and forestry, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

Carbon removals will become a vital tool for reducing carbon concentrations in the atmosphere but only massive cuts in emissions will give humanity a fighting chance of keeping global heating to 1.5°C or below, says the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The latest IPCC report, which was released in April, outlines various pathways …

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The eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea

Huge proposed project to prevent deforestation in Papua New Guinea may sell hot air credits and have misled locals

by Jonathan CrookGlobal markets, Greenwashing, Human rights in climate action, Land use and forestryPosted on Comments are Disabled

A proposed carbon offsetting project in Papua New Guinea, which has been labelled a “scam” by a local politician, appears to be of questionable environmental benefit and has seemingly failed to consult with local communities sufficiently and transparently, a Carbon Market Watch analysis concludes. This project must not receive certification. Carbon Market Watch’s analysis of …

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A sustainable carbons cycle or a vicious emissions cycle?

by Wijnand StoefsCarbon dioxide removals, Decarbonising European industry, Effort Sharing Regulation, Land use and forestry, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

Despite some good elements, the European Commission’s proposed carbon removal strategy leaves the door wide open to offsetting after 2030, which will undermine its ability to reduce emissions, writes Wijnand Stoefs. On 15 December 2021, the European Commission published its Sustainable Carbon Cycles Communication, which showcases its vision for carbon farming, industrial carbon capture and …

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Unsustainable business cycles trump sustainable carbon cycles in EU’s CO2 removals strategy

by Wijnand StoefsCarbon dioxide removals, Decarbonising European industry, Effort Sharing Regulation, Land use and forestry, The EU Green Deal and Climate LawPosted on Comments are Disabled

The European Commission released today its much-anticipated Sustainable Carbon Cycles Communication. The strategy undermines its own goals of reducing atmospheric carbon concentration by allowing companies to use removals to offset their emissions in the future. The strategy sets out a blueprint for how the European Union can harness carbon dioxide removals and so-called carbon farming …

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