F om a m o Eu ope:
add essing he challenges
o scaling ca bon schemes
D2.2
P ojec CREDIBLE: “Building momen um and us o
achie e c edible soil ca bon a ming in he EU”.
Funded by he Eu opean Union unde he G an Ag eemen nº 101112951.
DISCLAIMER: This epo e lec s a collabo a i e e o among di e se s akeholde s and does no imply unanimous
ag eemen on all poin s. Di e ging iews may exis among con ibu o s. I has been p epa ed on a olun a y basis by
membe s and con ibu o s o Focus G oup 2.2 i led “Wha is he bes scale o a ca bon ce i ica ion amewo k?” wi hin
he Ho izon Eu ope CREDIBLE p ojec . The epo does no cons i u e a binding posi ion and should be conside ed as a
cons uc i e con ibu ion o he ongoing CRCF policy de elopmen p ocess.
The iews exp essed in his documen a e he sole esponsibili y o he au ho s and do no necessa ily e lec he iews o
posi ions o he Eu opean Union, no hose o he ins i u ions o o ganisa ions o which he au ho s o he con ibu o s a e
a ilia ed. Nei he he au ho s, he con ibu o s, no he CREDIBLE conso ium can be held esponsible o any use ha
migh be made o he in o ma ion con ained he ein.
2
Documen in o ma ion
GRANT AGREEMENT Nº
101112951
P ojec i le
Building momen um and us o achie e
c edible soil ca bon a ming in he EU
P ojec ac onym
CREDIBLE
P ojec du a ion
36 mon hs
Coo dina o
SAE
Rela ed wo k packages(s)
WP2
Rela ed ask(s)
T2.2
Lead o ganisa ion
AC3A (Associa ion des Chamb es d'Ag icul u e de l'A c A lan ique, FR)
Con ibu ing pa ne (s)
I4CE (Ins i u e o Clima e Economics, FR)
EEB (Eu opean En i onmen al Bu eau, BE)
Due da e
30/09/2025
Submission da e
1/10/2025
Dissemina ion le el
Public (PU)
Au ho s
● Cla a DIEBOLT, AC3A
● Claudine FOUCHEROT, Chambe o Ag icul u e o No mandy (CAN)
● Julia GRIMAULT, I4CE
● Simon MARTEL, I4CE
His o y
Ve sion
Da e
Desc ip ion
Re iewed by
V1
13/08/2025
Fi s d a
T is ano Bacche i De G ego is (SAE)
Dominika Skoneca (SAE)
V2
01/09/2025
Second d a
Hugh McDonald (Ecologic)
Hannes Mollenhaue (UFZ)
V3
01/10/2025
Final e sion
T is ano Bacche i de G ego is (SAE)
Dominika Skonecka (SAE)
3
Table o con en
Acknowledgemen s 3
Execu i e Summa y 4
Lis o ac onyms and abb e ia ion 7
P ojec summa y 8
In oduc ion 10
Towa ds an op imal scale o go e nance o obus and iable schemes 11
1. Con ex : a de eloping egula o y amewo k 11
2. Challenges ackled by he Focus G oup 2.2 12
3. Gou e nance o he Focus G oup 2.2 13
4. Me hodology o collec insigh 14
Main ou comes om he Focus G oup 16
1. S akeholde Pe spec i es on Ce i ica ion Go e nance 16
Me hodology de elopmen and alida ion 17
GHG assessmen ools and models 20
P ojec alida ion 21
Audi o s acc edi a ion and egis y 23
2. Towa ds a Sha ed Vision o CRCF Go e nance 26
Panel and Audience Re lec ions 26
Key Challenges Iden i ied 27
Recommenda ions om he Session 28
Ou pu s om he Focus G oup 29
Final ecommenda ions 30
Re e ences 32
4
Acknowledgemen s
The au ho s would like o exp ess hei since e g a i ude o all membe s and con ibu o s o Focus
G oup 2.2 o he Ho izon Eu ope CREDIBLE p ojec , i led “Wha is he bes scale o a ca bon
ce i ica ion amewo k?” who gene ously con ibu ed hei ime, expe ise, and pe spec i es.
Thei commi men has been ins umen al in shaping he ecommenda ions p esen ed in his
epo .
We pa icula ly acknowledge he aluable insigh s sha ed by con ibu o s du ing he online su ey
and expe consul a ions o wo kshops a he EU Ca bon Fa ming Summi s in Valencia and Dublin.
Special hanks a e ex ended o ou pa ne s om he CREDIBLE p ojec who e iewed he
deli e able: Hannes Mollenhaue om he Helmhol z-Zen um ü Umwel o schung GmbH, Hugh
McDonald om he Ecologic Ins i u e and T is ano Bache i de G ego is and Dominika Skonecka
om Soluciones Ag icolas Ecoinno ado as.
5
Execu i e Summa y
Pu pose
This deli e able con ibu es o he CREDIBLE p ojec ’s o e a ching goal o os e ing us
and momen um o ca bon a ming in he Eu opean Union. Speci ically, i add esses he
issue o scaling ca bon ce i ica ion schemes om a m o na ional and EU le els.
The epo p esen s he indings o Focus G oup 2.2, which was asked wi h explo ing he
op imal scale o go e nance o a obus and iable ca bon ce i ica ion amewo k in
Eu ope. I aims o in o m he de elopmen and implemen a ion o he Ca bon Remo als
and Ca bon Fa ming (CRCF) egula ion by p o iding s akeholde -d i en
ecommenda ions on go e nance, me hodologies, ce i ica ion p ocesses, o egis y
design.
In ended audience
This documen is in ended o policymake s a EU and na ional le els, pa icula ly hose
in ol ed in clima e ac ion, ag icul u al policy, and en i onmen al go e nance. I is also
ele an o ce i ica ion bodies, p ojec de elope s, esea che s in clima e and land-use
sciences, and land manage s engaged in ca bon a ming ac oss ag icul u al, o es y, and
we land sec o s. The insigh s and ecommenda ions he ein a e designed o suppo
decision-making p ocesses ela ed o he design and implemen a ion o ca bon
ce i ica ion schemes unde he CRCF.
Desc ip ion o he main ac i i ies
Focus G oup 2.2 was coo dina ed by AC3A and I4CE and b ough oge he a di e se
ange o s akeholde s, including public ins i u ions, NGOs, esea che s, and p i a e
ac o s: p ojec de elope s, exis ing s anda d ep esen a i es, audi o s, MRV p o ide s.
The g oup conduc ed a se ies o consul a ions be ween Sep embe 2023 and July 2025.
The me hodology combined quali a i e and quan i a i e app oaches. Ini ial discussions
explo ed expe iences wi h exis ing schemes such as he F ench Label Bas-Ca bone
1
.
Then, a su ey was designed o assess p e e ences and isks associa ed wi h di e en
go e nance scales. The su ey a ge ed ca bon ce i ica ion and ca bon a ming expe s.
The esul s we e analysed alongside indings om ano he Eu opean p ojec called
VERTA
2
and deba ed in mul i-ac o se ings. This i e a i e p ocess ensu ed ha he
1
The Label Bas-Ca bone (‘low ca bon label’) is he i s olun a y clima e ce i ica ion amewo k in F ance, allowing o
ce i y g eenhouse gas emission educ ion and ca bon seques a ion p ojec s in all sec o s ( o es y, ag icul u e, anspo ,
cons uc ion, e c.)
2
VERTA is a EU p ojec laying ou sugges ions on he implemen a ion ules and he egis y o he CRCF.
6
ecommenda ions we e g ounded in p ac ical expe ience and e lec i e o di e se
pe spec i es ac oss Eu ope.
Key esul s
Resul 1: The a ious ce i ica ion go e nance op ions in ol e di e en ansac ion
cos s, which should be be e assessed when designing he CRCF. This is a majo issue
because he e is a isk ha a signi ican sha e o ansi ion unding could be di e ed o
hese ansac ion cos s.
This issue is discussed in he con ex o deba es on moni o ing (e.g. he le el o
moni o ing accu acy wi h he numbe o indica o s collec ed o he ool used: model s.
di ec measu emen s. emo e sensing) and less in e ms o he app op ia e le el o
cen alisa ion. A mo e decen alised app oach—pa icula ly ega ding me hodology—
allows o local his o y and speci ici ies o be aken in o accoun and os e s bo om-up
inno a ion. Howe e , he mo e decen alised he app oach, he highe he ansac ion
cos s.
Resul 2: Expe ience wi h exis ing ca bon ce i ica ion s anda ds shows ha economic
ope a o s o en exploi loopholes in me hodologies and compa ing he adequacy o
di e en me hodologies and ools is challenging. A model/ ool alida ion s ep is
he e o e needed o ensu e compliance wi h he me hodology. Independen
consul an s and esea che s should play a key ole in e iewing he en i e p ocess and
e alua ing whe he he assigned objec i es ha e been achie ed—beyond he wo k o
audi o s. This ole should no be unde es ima ed by he Commission.
Resea ch and p ac ice implica ions
I would be use ul o e alua e he ansac ion cos s associa ed wi h he di e en CRCF
go e nance scena ios in o de o guide he selec ion o he mos app op ia e op ion.
These cos s should include ees o consul an s and esea che s esponsible o
e iewing me hodologies and p oposed MRV ools, as well as expenses o audi o s—
which can inc ease signi ican ly in highly decen alised scena ios.
Cla i ying he go e nance p ocess could also help exis ing s anda ds iden i y ways
o becoming pa o he CRCF, o example as ce i ica ion schemes.
7
Policy implica ions
DG CLIMA should ensu e ha he CRCF emains su icien ly cen alised o p o ide
ha monised ules ac oss he EU while s ill aking local con ex s in o accoun . I should
also assess he associa ed ansac ion cos s, which end o inc ease wi h he le el o
lexibili y g an ed o s akeholde s. In addi ion, i is c ucial o alloca e an adequa e budge
o emune a e independen expe s and consul an s o sc u inizing me hodologies,
conduc ing p ojec checks, and o e seeing ce i ica ion bodies (audi o s).
Conclusion
The analysis showed ha he e a e se e al le els o go e nance o he di e en
componen s o ca bon ce i ica ion (me hodology, ools, audi ing, p ojec alida ion,
egis y). An assessmen o he bene i s and isks associa ed wi h hese scena ios was
ca ied ou , and he indings sugges ha ansac ion cos s and he need o limi
loopholes a gue in a o o a cen alised amewo k. Howe e , sa egua ds ha e been
p oposed wi h a iew o adap ing o local con ex s and p omo ing inno a ion.
8
Lis o ac onyms and abb e ia ions
CF: Ca bon Fa ming
CRCF: Ca bon Remo als and Ca bon Fa ming
DG CLIMA: Di ec o a e-Gene al o Clima e Ac ion
EC: Eu opean Commission
EU: Eu opean Union
FG: Focus G oup
GA: G an Ag eemen
GHG emission ools: G eenhouse gas emissions educ ion calcula o s using models and
pa ame e s p o ided by me hodologies and p o ocols.
Label Bas-Ca bone: a olun a y clima e ce i ica ion amewo k in F ance, led by he
Minis y o he En i onmen , ce i ying GHG emission educ ion and ca bon
seques a ion p ojec s in all sec o s ( o es y, ag icul u e, anspo , cons uc ion, e c.).
LULUCF: Land Use, Land Use Change and Fo es y
MRV ools: Moni o ing-Repo ing-Ve i ica ion ools, in e ace in eg a ing he ce i ica ion
ules de ined in he me hodology: addi ionali y, quan i ica ion, pe manence managemen
ools, moni o ing o e ime, audi epo s, e c.
MS: Membe S a e
NGO: Non-Go e nmen al O ganisa ion
SO: Speci ic Objec i e
UNFCCC: Uni ed Na ions F amewo k Con en ion on Clima e Change
VERTA: CRCF VERi ica ion Technical Assis ance. The VERTA p ojec has been
conduc ed h oughou 2024 o suppo he Commission o de elop implemen a ion ules
o he e i ica ion o ca bon emo als unde he CRCF and o s a he p ocess o scoping
an EU-wide egis y o ca bon emo als
WP: Wo k Package
9
P ojec summa y
This deli e able is pa o he EU- unded p ojec unde he opic HORIZON-MISS-2022-
SOIL-01-06, i led: Building momen um and us o achie e c edible soil ca bon a ming
in he EU (p ojec ac onym: CREDIBLE, G an Ag eemen #101112951).
The main goal o he CREDIBLE p ojec is o build momen um and us o he
implemen a ion o ca bon a ming in he EU. This has been p ima ily achie ed by se ing
up and mode a ing a ne wo k o ini ia i es/p ojec s/s akeholde s o a ou ing
anspa ency, en i onmen al in eg i y, and me hodology s anda disa ion in soil ca bon
accoun ing. Such a ne wo k is esponsible o pushing o wa d mul iple discussions
(a icula ed a ound h ee main hemes: which p ac ices; wha s anda ds; how o moni o )
and is expec ed o e ol e om a mos ly echnical/scien i ic ne wo k a he onse o he
p ojec , in o a p ocess ca alysing policy making and business inno a ion owa d i s end.
The anspa en , open access, mul i ac o dialogues equi ed o build us and co-c ea e
solu ions is o ches a ed a ound h ee annual Eu opean Ca bon Fa ming Summi s, which
p esen oppo uni ies o he ne wo k o in e ac wi h he b oade s akeholde communi y
and g ow o he poin i would a ac u he undings o long e m sus ainabili y. Th ough
he ac ion, ou speci ic objec i es (SO) a e achie ed:
SO1) o build and dissemina e a p ac ical oolbox o p omo ing ca bon a ming, capable
o aking in o accoun local land uses, bes p ac ices, and mul i-ac o in e es s;
SO2) o iden i y op ions o benchma king and selec ing s anda ds, ce i ica ion
mechanisms, and policy ins umen s o ca bon a ming;
SO3) o a ou he es ablishmen o a ne wo k o soil ca bon da a collec o s and
eposi o ies o imp o e measu ing and moni o ing ca bon dynamics;
SO4) o build up p ocesses and ools o d i e con e sa ions o he upscaling o ca bon
a ming. CREDIBLE’s ambi ion is o suppo he Eu opean Commission and he Expe
G oup on Ca bon Remo al in he iden i ica ion and upscale o solu ions o soil ca bon
a ming. Tables 1 and 2 p o ide u he in o ma ion on he s uc u e and composi ion o
he p ojec .
16
May o Oc obe 2024 – Su ey dissemina ion:
Online su ey comple ed by 23 expe s om 13 coun ies on go e nance p e e ences and
isks.
Objec i e: Iden i y consensus a eas, ensions, and pa hs o wa d o CRCF go e nance.
Feb ua y 2025 – C oss-analysis o su ey esul s:
In eg a ion o su ey indings wi h conclusions om he VERTA7 p ojec .
Objec i e: Re ine ecommenda ions using he la es echnical and policy insigh s.
10 Feb ua y 2025
Session wi h FG membe s o alida e and inalize policy ecommenda ions.
Objec i e: P epa e con ibu ions o he EU Ca bon Fa ming Summi in Dublin.
Ma ch 2025 – P esen a ion a he EU Ca bon Fa ming Summi in Dublin:
Public p esen a ion o FG 2.2’s ecommenda ions.
Objec i e: In luence he de elopmen o he CRCF wi h s akeholde -in o med p oposals.
June – July 2025 – Feedback on he CRCF d a implemen ing egula ion:
FG 2.2 con ibu ed o a collec i e eedback no e analyzing he EC d a egula ion.
Objec i e: P o ide conc e e ecommenda ions on go e nance, me hodologies, MRV
ools, p ojec alida ion, and egis y design.
July - Sep embe 2025 - Final deli e able om he FG
Objec i e: assess he implica ions o di e en le els o go e nance (Eu opean, na ional,
local) o ca bon ce i ica ion, by analysing he s eng hs and limi a ions o cen alised
and decen alised app oaches and p o iding conc e e ecommenda ions
Main ou comes om he Focus G oup
1. S akeholde Pe spec i es on Ce i ica ion Go e nance
This sec ion p esen s he main indings and ecommenda ions o Focus G oup 2.2 o
each key componen o he ca bon ce i ica ion amewo k. To explo e hese ques ions,
he g oup analysed he isks and bene i s o h ee heo e ical go e nance scena ios
unde he u u e Eu opean amewo k, ac oss key ce i ica ion componen s:
7
This VERTA p ojec has been conduc ed h oughou 2024 o suppo he Commission o de elop implemen ing ules o
he e i ica ion o ca bon emo als unde he CRCF and o s a he p ocess o scoping an EU-wide egis y o ca bon
emo als. h ps://clima e.ec.eu opa.eu/documen /download/45708194-a447-46c7-8 81-
cc96d621b490_en? ilename=e en _20250205_c c _ egis y_ ules_ epo _en.pd
17
● Me hodology de elopmen and alida ion,
● GHG assessmen ools,
● P ojec alida ion,
● Audi o s’ acc edi a ion
● and egis y managemen .
The h ee scena ios ( om mos cen alised o mos decen alised) a e:
Scena io A | Eu opean Le el
A highly cen alised model whe e mos ce i ica ion componen s a e de eloped and
app o ed a EU le el. Common me hodologies, ools, and a single egis y a e used
ac oss Eu ope. Exis ing s anda ds may ei he ac as alida o s unde EU me hodologies
o compe e wi h he Eu opean amewo k on o e lapping scopes (e.g. ca bon
seques a ion, N₂O emission educ ions).
Scena io B | Na ional Le el
Membe S a es play a cen al ole. Me hodologies, p ojec alida ion, audi o
acc edi a ion, and egis y managemen a e delega ed o na ional au ho i ies. This
mi o s he cu en F ench Label Bas Ca bone (LBC) model, which would need o e ol e
o align wi h CRCF ules. O he Membe S a es would also need o engage simila ly.
Scena io C | Exis ing S anda ds
A decen alised model whe e eligible public o p i a e s anda ds manage ce i ica ion
componen s. This esembles he CORSIA amewo k, which ecognises s anda ds ha
mee i s c i e ia unde an umb ella sys em.
These scena ios ep esen ex eme models, and hyb id app oaches combining elemen s
om each scena io ac oss di e en ce i ica ion componen s a e also possible.
18
The su ey collec ed answe s om 23 esponden s ep esen ing 11 di e en EU Membe
S a es, and 2 om ou side he EU.
The majo i y o esponden s we e in ol ed in ca bon ce i ica ion schemes, mainly as:
● En i y managing a ce i ica ion scheme
● In e media y be ween p ojec holde s and unde s
● P ojec de elope
● Me hodology de elope
Type o o ganisa ions
O he
1
Co po a ion
2
P i a e non-p o i o ganisa ion
3
Public en i y /
Go e nmen body
2
Resea ch Ins i u e /
Uni e si y
4
Small and medium En e p ise
4
NGO/
Ci il socie y
7
Scale o he o ganisa ion
Local
2
In e na ional
5
Eu opean
6
Na ional
10
19
Me hodology de elopmen and alida ion
Me hodologies se baselines, addi ionali y and GHG accoun ing ules, making hei
go e nance c i ical o consis ency and cos ‑e iciency ac oss he EU. The su ey asked
esponden s o a e he iabili y o h ee go e nance op ions (EU, na ional, exis ing
s anda ds) o de eloping and alida ing me hodologies, selec hei p e e ed op ion (see
igu e on he igh ), and explain hei choice.
Scena ios conside ed and eedback om esponden s
Scena io A - EU le el
Eu opean me hodologies a e de eloped by he EC, wi h possible inpu om a panel o
Eu opean expe s, and adop ed h ough delega ed ac s; hei alida ion is also ca ied ou by
he EC, po en ially ollowing Eu opean public consul a ion.
Feedback: A single EU me hodology ensu es s ong compa abili y and economies o
scale, bu eaching consensus can be ime‑consuming.
Scena io B - Na ional le el
The EC publishes o e a ching me hodologies o each
sec o , which a e hen adap ed by public o p i a e en i ies in
each MS o e lec e i o ial speci ici ies; hese adjus ed
me hodologies a e alida ed by na ional au ho i ies o ensu e
compliance wi h EU ules.
Feedback: Na ional adap a ion enables inno a ion and
esponsi eness, ye isks agmen a ion and unequal
capaci ies ac oss Membe S a es.
Scena io C – Exis ing s anda ds
The Commission p o ides global me hodological guidelines,
while exis ing public o p i a e s anda ds adjus hei
me hodologies acco dingly; alida ion is pe o med by hese
s anda ds, subjec o compliance wi h EU equi emen s and, whe e ele an , na ional
consul a ions.
Feedback: Le e aging exis ing me hodologies accele a es deploymen (sho e alida ion
ime, me hodologies al eady exis ing) bu does no esol e c edibili y issues o me hod
p oli e a ion.
20
Implica ions o he CRCF
Acco ding o he CRCF Regula ion, me hodologies will be de eloped by he Eu opean
Commission, which aligns wi h he su ey esul s showing a clea p e e ence among
esponden s o public-sec o leade ship in bo h he de elopmen and alida ion o
me hodologies.
FG 2.2 Recommenda ions
1. De ine p ecise EU-le el ules wi hin CRCF me hodologies o a oid lea ing oom
o in e p e a ion by p ojec de elope s in o de o ensu e consis ency. These
ules should es ablish he b oades possible common base, co e ing baseline
scena ios, addi ionali y es s, and GHG moni o ing equi emen s (emission
ac o s, equa ions, models, e c.). The mo e p esc ip i e he me hodology, he
lowe he ansac ion cos s (e.g., o p ojec de elopmen and audi ing).
2. Allow con olled lexibili y h ough speci ic p o ocols p oposed by ce i ica ion
schemes, unde s ic condi ions:
● The de elope mus demons a e he added alue o he p oposed
p o ocol compa ed o he EU-de ined me hodology.
● Membe S a es mus be in ol ed o ensu e c edibili y, obus ness,
independence, and alignmen wi h na ional egula ions.
● P o ocols om di e en schemes ope a ing in he same Membe S a e
mus mee equi alen equi emen s o p e en “ o um shopping”, namely
ope a o s exploi ing he sys em by choosing he mos a ou able scheme.
● All p o ocols mus be alida ed by he Eu opean Commission, based on
echnical expe ad ice.
● Me hodology de elope s may go beyond EU ules by in oducing
addi ional c i e ia whe e ele an .
3. As UNFCCC LULUCF epo ing me hodology di e s among Membe S a es,
enable hem o e ine me hodologies by using models o emission ac o s om
hei LULUCF epo ing, p o ided hese pa ame e s a e a leas as s ingen as
CRCF equi emen s, o ensu e consis ency ac oss egula ions.
4. Es ablish egula e iew cycles o me hodologies o keep hem aligned wi h
scien i ic p og ess, in ol ing independen esea che s, consul an s, and echnical
expe s.
5. Include an MRV cos es ima e o each me hodology o ensu e ha high accu acy
does no lead o disp opo iona e cos s, which could di e unding away om he
ansi ion.
21
GHG assessmen ools and models
GHG assessmen ools ope a ionalise me hodologies
and di ec ly a ec compa abili y, cos s, and use
up ake. The su ey asked esponden s o a e he
iabili y o go e nance op ions o de eloping,
alida ing, and app o ing ools/models (EU, na ional,
exis ing s anda ds), selec hei p e e ed op ion (see
igu e on he igh ), and explain hei choice.
Scena ios conside ed and eedback om
esponden s
Scena io A – EU le el (op ion 1)
A single public EU ool, a ailable in mul iple
languages, is used ac oss he Union.
Feedback: This o e s economies o scale, bu upda ing and sus aining a ee ool is
challenging gi en he di e si y o exis ing ools al eady in use by ad iso s.
Scena io A – EU le el (op ion 2)
Mul iple ools (public o p i a e) can coexis ; he EC app o es ools ha comply wi h EU
me hodological speci ica ions.
Feedback: This model balances consis ency and inno a ion, bu equi es adequa e
esou ces and ime o he app o al p ocess.
Scena io B – Na ional le el
Mul iple ools coexis ; Membe S a es app o e ools ha comply wi h he me hodological
speci ica ions
Feedback: Encou ages inno a ion and local i , gi ing oom o imp o emen , ye isks
dispa i ies and une en capaci y ac oss coun ies.
Scena io C – Exis ing s anda ds
Mul iple ools coexis ; S anda ds app o e he ools used wi hin hei scope.
Feedback: Al eady ope a ional in many con ex s, bu ca ies a isk o inconsis en ou pu s
ac oss ools and schemes.
22
Implica ions o he CRCF
The su ey indica es ha a unique EU ool is no seen as c edible, ye any ool should be
EC‑app o ed o ensu e equi y and compa abili y. Responden s also a ou desc ibing he
ole and expec ed beha iou o ools/models di ec ly wi hin EU me hodologies.
FG 2.2 Recommenda ions
1. Valida e ools h ough he EC based on echnical expe ad ice, benchma king es s,
and consul a ion wi h MS (especially o local ools).
2. Audi ools egula ly o ensu e hey emain aligned wi h e ol ing me hodologies and
p oduce consis en ou pu s.
3. Speci y wi hin me hodologies how ools/models mus implemen ules and
pa ame e s (e.g., equa ions, emission ac o s, bounda y condi ions).
4. An icipa e and budge ool cos s (de elopmen , main enance, app o als) o a oid
bo lenecks and ensu e long‑ e m ope abili y.
23
P ojec alida ion
P ojec alida ion con i ms ha a p ojec complies wi h he e e enced me hodology and ha
he applica ion is comple e (checks pe o med by he compe en au ho i y o a e i ica ion
body). Unde he CRCF, i esul s in a ce i ica e o compliance. The e o e, he su ey asked
esponden s o a e he iabili y o h ee go e nance op ions (EU, na ional, exis ing
s anda ds) o his s ep, selec hei p e e ed op ion (see igu e on he igh ), and explain
hei choice.
Scena ios conside ed and eedback om esponden s
Scena io A – EU le el
A Eu opean body ( he Commission o an appoin ed agency) e alua es all p ojec p oposals
in a single EU o ma (likely in English).
Feedback: Ensu es uni o mi y bu aises language ba ie s and isks limi ed local
ep esen a ion.
Scena io B – Na ional le el
A na ional body (minis y o na ional agency) e alua es p oposals w i en in he na ional
language and ensu es compliance wi h EU ules.
Feedback: P oximi y imp o es ele ance and access, ye
he e may be longe imelines o alida ion p ocess and
di e gen in e p e a ions be ween MS.
Scena io C – Exis ing s anda ds
Exis ing s anda ds can e alua e p ojec s submi ed in hei
geog aphic a eas
8
, ensu ing compliance wi h Eu opean
ules.
As he e a e possible o e laps be ween exis ing
s anda ds, in a gi en a ea, a p ojec de elope may ha e o
choose o which s anda d o submi he p ojec .
Feedback: Sho e alida ion imes a e possible hanks o expe ience and ee‑ unded
capaci y, bu double alida ion can occu wi hou a unique egis y.
8
As o he e i ica ion s ep, he s anda ds o en do no ca y ou he alida ion hemsel es, bu appoin independen
audi o s ins ead.
24
Implica ions o he CRCF
Su ey esul s poin ou Membe S a es as key playe s in p ojec alida ion. While he CRCF
o esees alida ion by ce i ica ion bodies, Membe S a es can wo k alongside schemes o
adap alida ion ules o hei con ex .
FG 2.2 Recommenda ions
1. Tigh en ules a me hodology/p o ocol le el o gain p ecision, educe ambigui y, and
lowe alida ion cos s.
2. Speci ic baselines: whe e s anda dised baselines canno be implemen ed in he i s
yea s, de elope s will use p ojec ‑speci ic baselines and mus demons a e baseline
choice and addi ionali y. This issue equi es mo e sc u iny om ce i ica ion bodies
and he CRCF should se de ailed equi emen s o es ablishing such baselines.
3. Membe S a es could play a ole he e o de ine pa ame e s o addi ionali y es s
o o p o ide a lis o c edible speci ic scena ios o guide ce i ica ion bodies and
ensu e consis ency wi hin he coun y.
25
Audi o s’ acc edi a ion and egis y
Audi o s' acc edi a ion and egis y managemen a e key o ensu ing e i ica ion quali y,
anspa ency, and aceabili y unde he CRCF, which de ines ce i ica ion bodies as
audi o s and equi es obus go e nance o p e en double coun ing and ensu e ma ke
in eg i y. In his con ex , he su ey in i ed esponden s o assess he iabili y o di e en
go e nance scena ios o (i) audi o acc edi a ion and (ii) egis y managemen , indica e
hei p e e ed op ions (see igu es below), and explain hei easoning.
Scena ios conside ed and eedback om esponden s
Audi o s’ acc edi a ion
Scena io A – EU le el
A single EU lis o acc edi ed audi o s decided by he Commission.
Feedback: C ea es economies o scale o EU‑wide ac o s and a oids epea ed na ional
acc edi a ions.
Scena io B – Na ional le el
Na ional lis s o acc edi ed audi o s.
Feedback: Lowe en y ba ie s o smalle audi o s ope a ing in a single coun y.
Scena io C – Exis ing s anda ds
Lis s o acc edi ed audi o s decided by exis ing s anda ds.
Au ho ’s no e: This scena io was no conside ed su icien ly iable by he pa icipan s
32
● Independen expe s and consul an s mus be commissioned and
adequa ely unded o assess he amewo k. Thei ole is essen ial o ensu e
me hodological in eg i y, alida e ools, and o e see ce i ica ion bodies. A
cen alised CRCF should enable economies o scale o suppo his.
● Cla i y he ull ce i ica ion p ocess, om me hodology de elopmen o
emission educ ion alida ion. This includes de ining he inal go e nance
scena io o p o ide isibili y o exis ing s anda ds and hei po en ial
in eg a ion in o he CRCF.
● Design a obus and iable CRCF business model, including unding sou ces,
ansac ion cos s, and minimum iable p ojec size. This will ensu e long- e m
sus ainabili y and accessibili y o di e se s akeholde s.
● An icipa e he ansi ion phase be ween exis ing amewo ks and he CRCF.
Fa me s al eady engaged in ce i ica ion schemes need isibili y and con inui y —
o example, h ough a ansi ional pe iod du ing which exis ing c edi s a e
ecognised unde he CRCF.
● Ensu e con inuous e iew and imp o emen o me hodologies and ools,
in ol ing bo h scien i ic expe s and ield-le el s akeholde s. This will help
main ain c edibili y and adap o e ol ing p ac ices and echnologies.
● P omo e g oup ce i ica ion models o educe adminis a i e bu den, especially
o agmen ed o small-scale a ms.
33
Re e ences
CREDIBLE p ojec . The issue o scale o he ca bon ce i ica ion amewo k, Ma ch 2024.
CREDIBLE p ojec . Su ey on he op imal scale o go e nance o he ce i ica ion
schemes unde he CRCF. Feb ua y 2025.
CREDIBLE p ojec . F om single a ms o na ions: is he e an op imal scale o obus and
iable schemes? June 2025.
CREDIBLE p ojec . Feedback on he D a Ac Implemen ing Regula ion on Ca bon
Remo als Ce i ica ion (CRCF), July 2025.
VERTA p ojec . Final epo on Scoping o he CRCF egis y and minimum equi emen s
o ce i ica ion scheme egis ies, Feb ua y 2025.
VERTA p ojec . Final epo on Ve i ica ion ules unde he CRCF egula ion.
Regula ion (EU) 2024/3012 o he Eu opean Pa liamen and o he Council o 27
No embe 2024 es ablishing a Union ce i ica ion amewo k o pe manen ca bon
emo als, ca bon a ming and ca bon s o age in p oduc s.
Ve i ica ion o ca bon emo als, ca bon a ming and ca bon s o age in p oduc s
(implemen ing ules).
34
