The European Commission yesterday adopted three certification methodologies for carbon farming under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation. By setting out clear technical rules, they ensure a consistent, credible and transparent approach to certifying carbon farming activities across the European Union.
The delegated act covers three types of carbon farming activities: agriculture and agroforestry on mineral soils, the rewetting and restoration of peatlands and other organic soils, and afforestation.
These activities deliver benefits that go well beyond carbon removals and reducing emissions from the soil. They help make landscapes more resilient to the effects of climate change, support biodiversity and other ecosystem services, and strengthen the long-term security of food and biomass supply for the bioeconomy. By providing a trusted certification framework, the new methodologies can help farmers, foresters, and land managers access financial rewards, creating a new source of income that supports the uptake of sustainable land management practices.
This week’s adoption marks an important step in implementing the CRCF Regulation and strengthening the role of carbon farming in the EU’s climate action. The methodologies were developed following a public consultation and discussions with the Expert Group on Carbon Removals.
Once the Delegated Regulation enters in force, certification schemes will be able to apply for recognition of compliance with these methodologies and the minimum requirements set out in the Implementing Regulation 2025/2358.More information on the process of scheme recognition is available on the Certification schemes page.
Background
The EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2024/3012), which entered into force on 6 December 2024, established the first EU-wide voluntary framework for the certification of carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products. It sets out common EU quality criteria, as well as monitoring and reporting requirements to ensure a harmonised, transparent and credible approach to certifying climate-beneficial activities across the EU.
The Regulation is implemented through certification methodologies adopted by the Commission via delegated acts. These methodologies provide the technical rules that operators must follow to demonstrate compliance with the CRCF quality criteria. The delegated act on carbon farming was developed through targeted consultation with the Commission’s Expert Group on Carbon Removals and a public consultation. Input from technical experts and stakeholders helped refine the methodologies and ensure they support the CRCF’s objective of delivering a credible and harmonised certification framework.
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