Brussels is stepping up efforts to integrate carbon farming into its climate framework at a time of rising pressure on public budgets. At a meeting of the Commission’s expert group on carbon removals, officials pointed to a busy upcoming policy schedule for 2026, filled with technical discussions and reforms to the EUs overarching climate governance system.
At the heart of the Commission’s work is the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming Certification Framework, which seeks to establish a common methodology for measuring and verifying carbon removals. New draft rules were published this week in the form of a public consultation on the delegated act covering carbon farming—the farming-, soil- and forestry-based branch of this policy area. One was published earlier in the week covering permanent carbon removals, and the new delegated acts are pending review by the European Parliament and Council.
Voluntary carbon markets could help meet these national climate targets, especially for land use sectors. – European Commission
In addition to ongoing certification frameworks, the Commission also plans to propose national climate targets by the end of the year—around the same timeframe in which the EU adopted a shared 2040 climate target of a 90 per cent emissions reduction and limited reliance on international credits. A public consultation on distributing that target among member states is expected to open imminently.
The Commission envisions that voluntary carbon markets could help meet these national climate targets, especially for land use sectors.
Lowering costs, boosting demand
A frequent topic of discussion among stakeholders was how costly monitoring and verification are for scaling up the opportunities in carbon farming. Possible solutions being explored include building synergies between national greenhouse gas inventories and geological data at farm and forest levels. One way to do this might be developing a carbon farming database that can be deployed in several ways.
Such a central repository could make models of soil carbon and forest growth available to national authorities and operatives in the field.
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Officials also confirmed that plans are under way for an EU-level registry for carbon removals by 2028. One possible structure for such a registry is that it will use blockchain technology to link existing registries. This project is more advanced than plans for recognising certification systems and examining certification bodies for accreditation purposes.
Unresolved questions
Despite ongoing efforts to expand opportunities in carbon farming, major policy questions remain. One challenge raised by participants is how to integrate non-CO₂ agricultural emissions such as methane into these practices. The Commission has been tasked with developing a pilot methodology by co-legislators. Such an approach could increase the opportunities for carbon farming but may present challenges regarding accurate measurement.
Brussels officials are also aware of criticism regarding additionality rules for carbon credits being ’too strict’, especially when distinguishing between standard practice and credits awarded for new and innovative carbon farming practices. There is growing concern that this stance ’discriminates against first movers’ who have already scaled up their operational changes to achieve better land management standards.
One potential solution officials have discussed is implementing a separate ’certificate of performance’ initiative. This scheme would certify early adopters of best practices during reporting procedures—especially within corporate value chains and would apply to scope 3 emissions taxonomies.
Climate goals easier to achieve
These initiatives signal a change in how authorities in Brussels view carbon farming not just as a mainly technical initiative but as integrating it into EU climate policies that impact industrial and commercial sectors.
It is still uncertain whether voluntary carbon markets can attain the scale, credibility, and resources that the Commission desires. However, one thing is certain: the EU’s climate goals might have now become easier to achieve only through widespread land-based carbon removals and the necessary investment provided by private sector partners.
The concept of carbon farming includes a variety of agricultural practices that aim to increase the amount of carbon kept in soil, vegetation, and other biomass to reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere.
About carbon farming
The practice of carbon farming can involve changes in agricultural practices, crop systems, or forest management. While not a significant component of current climate policy, the European Commission expects that carbon farming will considerably contribute to meeting climate targets in the future and attract private investment into agriculture and forestry.
Over the past few years, an increasing interest has been demonstrated for carbon farming practices, particularly in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise through conventional measures. Carbon farming is relevant in the context of increasing pressure on public budgets and the need to find cost-effective ways to meet the EU’s 2040 climate target.
