Scoop School is back in session.

The second lesson: Who’s leading and who’s lagging in carbon removal (CDR) policy?

• Who’s getting it right, and who’s falling behind?
• What works in CDR policy design?
• Is it possible to replicate successes across borders?

Yes, durable CDR policy is still in its early stages, but our in-depth looks at the UK, Switzerland, and Germany have proven there’s already a lot to discuss—and a lot others can learn from.

Sebastian has been tracking these policy trends closely and will join Eve to unpack the best, the most ambitious, and the key lessons so far.

Links:

• Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website
• Sebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website
• Carbon Gap Policy Tracker

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It may still be summer, but the new series, “Scoop School”, is now in session. First lesson: Carbon Removal Accounting. Which is not the same as MRV, and the lesson will get to that.

Countries are facing new and urgent questions regarding how to account for removals, whether it's within the context of the Paris Agreement’s Crediting Mechanism PACM, the EU’s CRCF, or incorporating removals into emission trading systems.

All of this has a tangible impact on which carbon removal methods can be scaled via compliance markets, and oftentimes comes as a surprise to those active exclusively in voluntary markets.

The inaugural “Scoop School” lesson will cover:

• What types of removals are included in the national accounting
• Which ones are not
• And which ones are in the grey zone

Where are the blind spots? Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme as they delve into these questions and more to make sense of the current state of play.

Links:

• Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website
• Sebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website
• Will the Carbon Removal Certification Framework count in the race to climate neutrality?
• CDR and credibility: Unpacking reversal rules under Article 6.4 with Danny Cullenward
• Report of the IPCC Expert Meeting, 2024
• Draft outline of the Methodology Report on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technologies, Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage
• Discussions on the IPCC Report on CO2 Removal/Carbon Capture to continue at next session

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Europe’s forests and soils have been acting as an indispensable cushion for our climate targets, currently offsetting around 6% of the EU’s GHG emissions.

But the LULUCF sink - the EU’s natural carbon safety net - has dropped by 30% compared to the previous decade. Recent projections highlight a crucial gap between the climate target and the current sink.

Is Europe’s land carbon sink slipping away? What will it take to bring it back? Can smart and innovative policy design turn the tide on the EU’s carbon sink?

Enter Asger Strange Olesen, one of Europe’s leading voices on climate and land sector policy. He’s the Global Head of Climate and Biodiversity at the International Woodland Company and is heavily involved in the CRCF as an Independent Member of the EU Carbon Removal Expert Group.

Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they learn from Asger the science behind the shrinking sink, explore current EU policy responses, and uncover the best CDR policy solutions to enhance land-based removals.

Links:

• Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website
• Sebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website
• Asger Strange Olesen: LinkedIn and Medium
• Supercharging Carbon Removal from the EU’s Land Sector
• DG CLIMA: EU Land Use Sector

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The Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM, also known as the Article 6.4 mechanism) is going through another round of public consultations. One key document on the table is the draft standard on non-permanence/reversals, which has sparked a lot of questions.

What are the options on the table? What does it mean for different types of carbon removal projects? How are the various documents up for public consultation via the Methodology Expert Panel and the PACM Supervisory Body connected?

There is no better person to help with deciphering the content and process than Danny Cullenward, a member of the PACM Methodological Expert Panel. Co-author of the influential book “Making Climate Policy Work”, his research and advice have influenced the architecture of carbon markets globally. Danny speaks in his individual capacity and does not represent the MEP or the PACM at our live session.

Join co-host Eve Tamme and Danny as they discusses the reversals standard under consideration, and what it means for building international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement.

Links:

• Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website
• Danny Cullenward: Bluesky and Website
• PACM draft standard on addressing non-permanence/reversals
• PACM concept note on the applicability of removal guidance to emission reduction activities and vice versa
• PACM standard on requirements for activities involving removals
• Consultation response by Perspective Climate Research
• Call for input - Draft Standard: Addressing non-permanence/reversals

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We’ve covered a lot of CDR policy developments in Europe and across the pond in the United States. But, truth be told, the UK is a bit of a blind spot for us.

The UK’s Net-Zero Strategy was one of the first to establish an engineered Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR aka CDR) target. And only days before our scoop, the UK government has confirmed its plan to integrate removals into the UK ETS by 2029, with legislation targeted for 2028.

Is the UK quietly and humbly leading the way in CDR? What will it take for it to truly become a global leader in carbon management?

To help us better understand it all, we’re delighted to welcome special guest Ted Christie-Miller, co-founder of Residual. He’s shaped the UK’s conversation on CDR market frameworks and policy strategy.

Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they learn from Ted about the UK’s CDR landscape, including the government’s approach to carbon markets and the expansion of the UK ETS, as well as the future outlook.

Links:

• Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website
• Sebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website
• Ted Christie Miller: LinkedIn and Residual
• UK Government response on Integrating Greenhouse Gas Removals in the UK Emissions Trading Scheme
• UK Government GGR Business Model Publication

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Like it or not, the “like-for-like” debate in carbon removal isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Conversations around temporary versus durable, conventional versus novel removals are increasingly diverging.

Should carbon markets foresee separate roles for these removal types, or strive for a common ground that makes all removals comparable? Is true compatibility even possible?

Co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are delighted to welcome Gabrielle Walker, co-founder of Rethinking Removals and CUR8, as their guest. Scientist-turned-CDR powerhouse, Gabrielle has a deep understanding and passion for these topics like no other.

Join the conversation to find out what “like-for-like” really means, why it matters for policy and net-zero claims, and how to build integrity with today’s knowledge.

Links:

• Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website
• Sebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website
• Gabrielle Walker: LinkedIn, CUR8, Rethinking Removals
• Geological Net Zero and the need for disaggregated accounting for carbon sinks

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The first methodologies for permanent removals under the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Regulation are being finalised.

The European Commission’s 8th Carbon Removal Expert Group meeting, held on 10 July, was dedicated to a draft delegated act on DACCS, BioCCS, and biochar.

Does this draft piece of legislation do justice to the CDR methods under consideration? Or does it fall short, and the Commission consultants should be sent back to the drawing board?

Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme as they analyse the heated discussions in the expert group and the next steps.

Links:

• Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website
• Sebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website
• Carbon Removal Expert Group meeting on permanent removals, 10 July 2025 - agenda, slides, recording

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Not one week passes without news of major developments coming out of Germany: earlier in the year, Europe’s biggest economy became the first country in the world to enshrine a net-zero target (2045) into its constitution.

Following the recent election, the ruling coalition then included carbon removal in its coalition treaty. More recently, a line dedicated to CDR was added to the federal budget and rumour has it that large sums of funding could soon be allocated to this as early as 2026.

Could Germany become the global powerhouse for CDR? And what will it take exactly to get there?

Co-host Eve Tamme discusses this and more with Nadine Walsh, the Policy Manager from the Deutscher Verband für negative Emissionen e.V. (DVNE) - Germany’s national CDR association.

Links:

• Eve Tamme: LinkedIn and Website
• Sebastian Manhart: LinkedIn and Website
• Nadine Walsh: LinkedIn
• DVNE: Website and LinkedIn

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