Carbon removal certification refers to the process of officially recognizing and validating initiatives or projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere according to certain standards. What does certification actully mean and what is the value to certify carbon removal? 

Jasmijn Sybenga 

Certification guarantees that a project actually contributes to reducing the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere and that the amount of carbon removed has been recorded in a reliable and measurable way. That’s why an international  consortium has been working on an EU-wide voluntary framework for certifying carbon removal and carbon farming, since 2023.

Carbon removal certification plays a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness and credibility of climate measures aimed at removing CO₂ from the atmosphere. 

Validation and verification

Certification starts with a thorough validation and verification of a project’s claims. This involves independent third parties assessing the project’s methods and results to ensure that carbon removal is actually taking place and that the amounts reported are correct. 

Certificates

Once a project is certified, certificates – carbon credits – are issued to represent the amount of carbon removed. One certificate is usually equivalent to one tonne of CO₂ equivalent removed from the atmosphere. 

Carbon Market

The certificates issued can be traded on the voluntary carbon market or used by companies and governments to offset their carbon footprint. This offsetting is becoming increasingly important as part of strategies to achieve climate goals: net-zero emissions by 2050. 

Curious?

This is the fourth blog in a series on Carbon Removal 

• The first blog is about Best practices in natural CO2 removal 
• The second blog is about the fight against climate change  
• The third blog is about benefits of nature-based carbon removal processes 

In the next blog I will discuss the need for a new European certification system. 

Visit our page on nature based carbon removal.