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OPINION (COM(2022)672 – C90399/2022 – 2022/0394(COD))

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Union certification framework for carbon removals

AGRI-AD-746718

Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development · Rapporteur: Martin Hlaváček

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The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development gives its opinion on the proposed regulation establishing a Union certification framework for carbon removals. It proposes to add carbon farming to the framework, so that farmers and forest owners can certify both carbon removals and greenhouse gas emission reductions. It asks for a separate net carbon farming benefit that combines removals and emission reductions, with a fixed baseline of zero removal for arable mineral soils and a formula set out in the text. It wants the Commission to set permanence approximations and discount rates per activity, liability mechanisms such as pools, mutual funds or insurance, and a maximum price for certification audits. It proposes using existing EU structures: national paying agencies as accreditation authorities and the Land Parcel Identification System for registration, plus a central Union registry. It calls for certification methodologies to be drafted with experts and farmers from existing schemes, and for a public consultation and call for evidence before delegated acts. It asks the Commission to consider how carbon farming emission reductions and removals would count towards the Union 2040 and 2030 targets and emissions trading.

Committee position. The committee proposes to amend the Commission proposal to add carbon farming to the certification framework, with a separate net carbon farming benefit, permanence and liability rules, use of paying agencies and the Land Parcel Identification System, and methodologies developed with stakeholders.

Key points

  1. The opinion proposes to decouple carbon removals from carbon farming, because farming has a different legal base and different storage permanence.
  2. It says focusing only on removals would reduce farmers' interest in cutting methane and nitrous oxide emissions, so emission reductions must be certified alongside removals.
  3. It asks the Commission to set, for each carbon farming activity, an approximation of storage permanence and discount rates based on reversibility risk.
  4. It wants certification methodologies drafted with experts and farmers from existing carbon farming schemes, and a price standard for carbon offsets and audits.
  5. It proposes that national paying agencies act as accreditation authorities and that the Land Parcel Identification System register carbon farming commitments.
  6. It amends the title, legal basis and recitals to cover carbon farming and greenhouse gas emission reductions, and to give priority to fossil emission reductions.
  7. It sets a net carbon farming benefit formula combining removals and emission reductions, with a fixed baseline of zero removal for arable mineral soils.
  8. It requires carbon farming activities to be additional, going beyond statutory requirements and taking place due to the incentive effect of certification.
  9. It requires liability mechanisms for carbon release, including a percentage of credits in a pool, mutual funds or insurance, with exceptions for force majeure.
  10. It adds sustainability objectives for carbon farming, including agricultural productivity, food security, farmers' income and soil protection.
  11. It requires the Commission to adopt certification methodologies within 6 months of entry into force, after public consultation and a call for evidence.
  12. It asks the Commission to consider how carbon farming emission reductions and removals count towards the Union 2040 and 2030 targets and emissions trading.

Who is affected

  • Farmers, forest owners and managers, who could certify carbon farming activities and receive payments.
  • National paying agencies, proposed as accreditation authorities for carbon farming.
  • Certification schemes and certification bodies, which must register data and meet new rules.
  • Small-scale operators, for whom administrative and financial burdens should be minimised.

Figures and deadlines

  • 310 Mt CO2 eq by 2030: the Union net removals target cited in the amended recital.
  • 6 months after entry into force: deadline for the Commission to adopt certification methodologies.
  • 31 July 2026: date of the Commission report under Directive 2003/87/EC on accounting carbon farming reductions.
  • 12 months of entry into force: deadline for the Commission report under Regulation 2018/841 on accounting carbon farming removals.

Legal basis: Articles 43(2) and 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.