Existing certification schemes to inspire EU plan for carbon removals

The European Commission’s proposal to regulate the Union’s carbon removals market will be based on existing verification and certification schemes. It will further aim to create a common method in order to bring more transparency to the opaque sector, an EU official explained. The carbon removals market, which refers to the capturing, recycling, and storing of CO2 by farmers, foresters, and industries, plays a key role in achieving the land sector’s goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2035.

However, inconsistencies in measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) processes offered by various private bodies have resulted in low prices on the voluntary market, providing little incentives for investors. By the end of the year, the Commission will present its proposal to unify the EU’s carbon removals MRV process with the aim of bringing order in a market deemed essential to reach the EU’s objective of reducing emissions to net-zero by mid-century.

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Bioeconomy Youth Ambassador competition

Are you between 18 and 35 years old and have experience or strong interest in bioeconomy  and/or bioeconomy related fields (food systems, forestry, climate change, etc.)? Would you like to contribute to the sustainable and circular transition of Europe?

Apply by 13 June – 11:59PM CET to join the Bioeconomy Youth Ambassadors programme to:

  • lead by example, inform and inspire others about sustainable and circular bioeconomy
  • reach out to communities, students and civil society, and to engage decision-makers
  • work with social media to raise awareness about the role of the bioeconomy in everyone’s life
  • raise awareness for the bioeconomy especially in youth communities, support the ongoing youth and education related processes of the European Union

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Waste and recycling: Commission seeks views on revision of the Waste Framework Directive

The Commission launched a public consultation on the revision of the Waste Framework Directive (WFD), including the setting of EU food waste reduction targets. The revision aims to improve the overall environmental outcome of waste management in line with the waste hierarchy and the implementation of the polluter pays principle. The public consultation is open for feedback until 16 August 2022. It will focus on the following policy areas: prevention (including reduction of food waste), separate collection, waste oils and textiles, and the application of the waste hierarchy and the polluter pays principle. This revision considers several legislative review clauses referred to in the Directive as well as the policy objectives set in The European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Circular Economy Action Plan.

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