57 Amendments of Daniel BUDA related to 2022/0394(COD)
Amendment 59 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) At a global scale, the latest report by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) points towards a decreasing likelihood of limiting global warming to 1.5 °C unless rapid and deep cuts in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions occur throughout the forthcoming decades. The IPCC report also clearly states that ‘the deployment of carbon dioxide removal to counterbalance hard-to-abate residual emissions is unavoidable if net-zero carbon dioxide (CO2) or GHG emissions are to be achieved’. This will require the large-scale deployment of sustainable activities for capturing CO2 from the atmosphere and durably storing it in geological reservoirs, terrestrial and marine ecosystems, or products. Today and with current policies, the Union is not on track to deliver the required carbon removals: carbon removals in terrestrial ecosystems have been decreasing in recent years, and no significant industrial carbon removals are currently taking place in the Union. __________________ 23 IPCC Working Group III (2022), Technical Summary. In: Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Sixth Assessment Report (link).
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) The voluntary Union certification framework will support the development of carbon removal activities in the Union that result in an unambiguous net carbon removal benefit, while avoiding greenwashing. In the case of carbon farming, such voluntary certification framework should also encourage and support the uptake of carbon removal activities that generate co-benefits for biodiversity, therefore achieving the nature restoration targets set out in Union law on nature restoration. The voluntary Union certification framework will be instrumental in meeting the Union climate change mitigation objectives set in international agreements and in the Union legislation.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) In order to support operators willing to make additional efforts to increase carbon removals in a sustainable way, the voluntary Union certification framework should take into account the different types of carbon removal activities, their specificities and related environmental impacts. Therefore, this Regulation should provide clear definitions of carbon removal, carbon removal activities, carbon dioxide storage activities and other elements of the voluntary Union certification framework.
Amendment 96 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) This Regulation should set out the requirements under which carbon removals should be eligible for certification under the voluntary Union certification framework. To this end, carbon removals should be quantified in an accurate and robust way; and they should be generated only by carbon removal activities that generate a net carbon removal benefit, are additional, aim to ensure long-term storage of carbon, and have a neutral impact or co- benefit on sustainability objectives. Furthermore, carbon removals should be subject to independent third-party auditing in order to ensure the credibility and reliability of the certification process. Mandatory Union carbon pricing rules established through Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council are in place which regulate the treatment of emissions from activities covered by that Directive. This Regulation should be without prejudice to Directive 2003/87/EC, except in relation to the certification of removals of emissions from sustainable biomass which are zero-rated in accordance with Annex IV thereto. __________________ 26 Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) This Regulation should set out the requirements under which carbon removals should be eligible for certification under the Union certification framework. To this end, carbon removals should be quantified in an accurate and robust way; and they should be generated only by carbon removal activities that generate a net carbon removal benefit, are additional, aim to ensure long-term storage of carbon, and have a neutral impact ordo minimal harm to or generate co- benefit ons for sustainability objectives. Furthermore, carbon removals should be subject to independent third-party auditing in order to ensure the credibility and reliability of the certification process. Mandatory Union carbon pricing rules established through Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council26 are in place which regulate the treatment of emissions from activities covered by that Directive. This Regulation should be without prejudice to Directive 2003/87/EC, except in relation to the certification of removals of emissions from sustainable biomass which are zero-rated in accordance with Annex IV thereto. __________________ 26 Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Community and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, p. 32).
Amendment 101 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) A carbon removal activity should result in a net carbon removal benefit showing that it delivers a positive climate impact. The net carbon removal benefit should be computed following two steps. First, operators should quantify the amount of additional carbon removals that a carbon removal activity has generated in comparison to a baseline. A standardised baseline reflecting the standard performance of comparable activities in similar social, economic, environmental and technological circumstances and geographical locations should be preferred because it ensures objectivity, minimises compliance and other administrative costs, and positively recognises the action of first movers who have already engaged in carbon removal activities. In the context of carbon farming, the use of available digital technologies, including electronic databases and geographic information systems, remote sensing, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and of electronic maps should be promoted and financially stimulated, through resolute EU action, to decrease the costs of establishing baselines and of monitoring carbon removal activities. However, where it is not possible to set such a standardised baseline, and where financial support measures should be identified and applied by the Commission, a project-specific baseline based on the operator’s individual performance may be used. In order to reflect the social, economic, environmental and technological developments and to encourage ambition over time in line with the Paris Agreement, baselines should be periodically updated.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) The second step for quantifying the net carbon removal benefit should consist of subtracting any increase in greenhouse gas emissions related to the implementation of the carbon removal activity. Relevant greenhouse gas emissions that should be taken into consideration include direct emissions, such as those resulting from the use of more fertilisers, fuel or energy, or indirect emissions, such as those resulting from land use change, with consequent risks for food security due to displacement of agricultural production. A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the implementation of the carbon removal activity should not be taken into account to quantify the net carbon removal benefit, but should be considered as a co-benefit towards the sustainability objective of climate change mitigation; by being reported on the certificates, decreases in greenhouse gas emissions (like the other sustainability co-benefits) can increase the value of the certified carbon removals. However, in the case of indirect emissions, account must be taken of the need to ensure a minimum impact of land use change on farmers’ activities, on the proper functioning of supply chains, and on the guaranteeing of local and regional food security.
Amendment 114 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Carbon removals should be quantified in a relevant, accurate, complete, consistent and comparable and well-defined manner. Uncertainties in the quantification should be duly reported and accounted in order to limit the risk of overestimating the quantity of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere. Carbon removals generated by carbon farming should be quantified with a high level of accuracy to assure the highest quality and minimise uncertainties. Moreover, in order to incentivise synergies between Union climate and biodiversity objectives, enhanced monitoring of land is needs to be required, thereby helping to protect and enhance the resilience of nature-based carbon removals throughout the Union. The satellite and on- site monitoring and reporting of emissions and removals need to closely reflect those approaches, and make the best use of advanced technologies available under Union programmes, such as Copernicus, making full use of already existing tools, and ensure consistency with the national greenhouse gas inventories. The use of available advanced technologies should come into play, along with the means of appropriate assistance and funding, to ensure compliant use of these tools and avert any risk of overestimating the amount of carbon removed from the atmosphere or of discouraging agricultural activities or supply chain activities, in particular as regards small farms and SMEs, respectively.
Amendment 131 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Recital 13
(13) Atmospheric and biogenic carbon that is captured and stored through a carbon removal activity risks being released back into the atmosphere (e.g. reversal) due to natural or anthropogenic causes. Therefore, operators should take all relevant preventive measures to mitigate those risks and duly monitor that carbon continues to be stored over the monitoring period laid down for the relevant carbon removal activity. The validity of the certified carbon removals should depend on the expected duration of the storage and the different risks of reversal associated with the given carbon removal activity. Activities that store carbon in geological formations provide enough certainties on the very long-term duration of several centuries for the stored carbon and can be considered as providing permanent storage of carbon. Carbon farming or carbon storage in products are more exposed to the risk of voluntary or involuntary release of carbon into the atmosphere. To account for this risk, the validity of the certified carbon removals generated by carbon farming and carbon storage in products should be subject to an expiry date matching with the end of the relevant monitoring period. Thereafter, the carbon should be assumed to be released into the atmosphere, unless the economic operator proves the maintenance of the carbon storage through uninterrupted monitoring activities.
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) In addition to measures taken to minimise the risk of carbon release into the atmosphere during the monitoring period, appropriate liability mechanisms should be introduced to address cases of reversal. Such mechanisms could include e.g. discounting of carbon removal units, mutual funds, collective buffers or accounts of carbon removal units, and up- front insurance mechanisms. Since liability mechanisms in respect of geological storage and CO2 leakage, and relevant corrective measures have already been laid down by Directive 2003/87/EC and Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council27 , those liability mechanisms and corrective measures should apply to avoid double regulation. __________________ 27 Directive 2009/31/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the geological storage of carbon dioxide and amending Council Directive 85/337/EEC, European Parliament and Council Directives 2000/60/EC, 2001/80/EC, 2004/35/EC, 2006/12/EC, 2008/1/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 (OJ L 140, 5.6.2009, p. 114).
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Carbon removal activities have a strong potential to deliver win-win solutions for sustainability, even if trade- offs cannot be excluded. Therefore, it is appropriate to establish minimum sustainability requirements to ensure that carbon removal activities have a neutral impactdo minimal harm to or generate co-benefits for the sustainability objectives of climate change mitigation and adaptation, the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, the transition to a circular economy, and pollution prevention and control. Those sustainability requirements should, as appropriate, and taking into consideration local conditions, build on the technical screening criteria for Do Not Significant Harm concerning forestry activities and underground permanent geological storage of CO2, laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/213928 , and on the sustainability criteria for forest and agriculture biomass raw material laid down in Article 29 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council29 . Practices, such as forest monocultures, that produce harmful effects for biodiversity should not be eligible for certification. __________________ 28 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 of 4 June 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation or climate change adaptation and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives (OJ L 442, 9.12.2021, p. 1). 29 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82).
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Carbon removal activities have a strong potential to deliver win-win solutions for sustainability, even if trade- offs cannot be excluded. Therefore, it is appropriate to establish minimum sustainability requirements to ensure that carbon removal activities have a neutral impact or generate co-benefits for the sustainability objectives of climate change mitigation and adaptation, the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, the transition to a circular economy, and pollution prevention and control. Those sustainability requirements should, as appropriate, and taking into consideration local conditions, build one consistent with the technical screening criteria for Do Not Significant Harm concerning forestry activities and underground permanent geological storage of CO2, laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/213928 , and on the sustainability criteria for forest and agriculture biomass raw material laid down in Article 29 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council29 . Practices, such as forest monocultures, that produce harmful effects for biodiversity should not be eligible for certification. __________________ 28 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 of 4 June 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation or climate change adaptation and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives (OJ L 442, 9.12.2021, p. 1). 29 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82).
Amendment 145 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Carbon removal activities have a strong potential to deliver win-win solutions for sustainability, even if trade- offs cannot be excluded. Therefore, it is appropriate to establish minimum sustainability requirements to ensure that carbon removal activities have a neutral impact or generate co-benefits for the sustainability objectives of climate change mitigation and adaptation, the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, the transition to a circular economy, and pollution prevention and control. Those sustainability requirements should, as appropriate, and taking into consideration local conditions, build one consistent with the technical screening criteria for Do Not Significant Harm concerning forestry activities and underground permanent geological storage of CO2, laid down in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/213928 , and on the sustainability criteria for forest and agriculture biomass raw material laid down in Article 29 of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council29 . Practices, such as forest monocultures, that produce harmful effects for biodiversity should not be eligible for certification. __________________ 28 Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 of 4 June 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing the technical screening criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity qualifies as contributing substantially to climate change mitigation or climate change adaptation and for determining whether that economic activity causes no significant harm to any of the other environmental objectives (OJ L 442, 9.12.2021, p. 1). 29 Directive (EU) 2018/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, p. 82).
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) Farming practices that remove CO2 from the atmosphere contribute to the climate neutrality objective and should be rewarded, either via. The Commission shall identify and apply financial support mechanisms to reward farmers, either by supplementing the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), or by developing other financial support measures, or by other public or private initiatives. Specifically, this Regulation should take into account farming practices as referenced in the Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles30, as well as guaranteeing food security and the proper functioning of agricultural production and the supply chain. __________________ 30 Communication from the Commission, Sustainable Carbon Cycles, COM (20221) 800.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Recital 17
(17) Operators or groups of operators may report co-benefits that contribute to the sustainability objectives beyond the minimum sustainability requirements. To this end, their reporting should comply with the certification methodologies tailored to the different carbon removal activities, developed by the Commission. Certification methodologies should, as much as possible, incentivise the generation of co-benefits for biodiversity going beyond the minimum sustainability requirements. These additional co-benefits will give more economic value to the certified carbon removals and will result in higher revenues for the operators. In the light of these considerations, it is appropriate for the Commission to prioritise the development of tailored certification methodologies on carbon farming activities that provide similarly significant co-benefits for biodiversity, and for farmers’ activities and supply chain activities.
Amendment 169 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) It is appropriate to develop detailed certification methodologies for the different carbon removal activities in order to apply, in a standardised, verifiable and comparable way, the quality criteria laid down in this Regulation. Those methodologies should ensure the robust and transparent certification of the net carbon removal benefit generated by the carbon removal activity, while avoiding disproportionate administrative and financial burden for operators or group of operators, in particular for small farmers, short-supply-chain actors and forest holders. To this end, the Commission should be empowered to supplement this Regulation by adopting delegated acts establishing detailed certification methodologies for the different carbon removal activities. Those methodologies should be developed in close consultation with the Expert Group on Carbon Removals and all other interested actors. They need to be based on the best available and most recent scientific evidence, and on the situation on the ground, build upon existing public and private schemes and methodologies for carbon removal certification, and take into account any relevant standard and rules adopted at national and Union level.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
Recital 20
(20) Providing land managers with improved knowledge, additional financing tools and methods for a better assessment and optimisation of the carbon removals is key for cost- efficient implementation of mitigation actions and for securing their engagement in carbon farming. This is particularly relevant for Union small farmers or forest holders that often lack the financial resources, know-how and the expertise required to implement carbon removal activities and to comply with the required quality criteria and related certification methodologies. Therefore, it is appropriate to require that producer organisations facilitate the provision of free relevant advisory services through technical advice to their members. The Common Agricultural Policy, the financial support mechanisms identified by the Commission and national State aid can support financially the provision of advisory services, the purchase of audit services required under this regulation, knowledge exchange, training, information actions or interactive innovation projects with farmers and foresters.
Amendment 189 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) Certification schemes should be used by operators availing of the voluntary certification framework to demonstrate compliance with this Regulation. Therefore, certification schemes should operate on the basis of reliable, flexible and transparent rules and procedures and should ensure accuracy, reliability, integrity and non-repudiation of origin, and protection against fraud of information and of data submitted by operators. They should also ensure the correct accounting of the verified carbon removal units, notably by avoiding double counting. To this end, the Commission should be empowered to adopt implementing acts, including adequate standards of reliability, transparency, accounting and of independent auditing to be applied by certification schemes, so as to ensure the necessary legal certainty as regards the rules applicable to operators and to certification schemes. To ensure a cost- effective certification process, those technical harmonised rules on certification should also have the objective of reducing unnecessary administrative and financial burden for operators, or group of operators, in particular for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), includingespecially small farmers and foresters.
Amendment 204 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) To enable operators to apply the quality criteria set out in this Regulation in a standardised and cost-effective way, while taking into account the specific characteristics of different carbon removal activities, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union should be delegated to the Commission to supplement this Regulation by establishing detailed certification methodologies for different types of carbon removal activities. The Commission should also be able to amend Annex II listing the minimum information to be contained in the certificates. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level, and that those consultations be conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement of 13 April 2016 on Better Law-Making. In particular, to ensure equal participation in the preparation of delegated acts, the European Parliament and the Council receive all documents at the same time as Member States' experts, and their experts systematically have access to, and at least a consultative role in, meetings of Commission expert groups dealing with the preparation of delegated acts. __________________ 34 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.
Amendment 205 #
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 30
Recital 30
(30) The Commission should review the implementation of this Regulation 3 years following the entry into force of this Regulation, and subsequently not later than six months after the global stocktake agreed under Article 14 of the Paris Agreement. Those reviews should take into account the relevant developments concerning the Union legislation, technological and scientific progress, the economic situation in the EU’s regions, energy price developments, market developments in the field of carbon removals and food security including, and especially food availability and affordability, including from a price perspective and that of the proper functioning of regional agri-food chains, and should be informed by the results of the global stocktake of the Paris Agreement.
Amendment 211 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. The objective of this Regulation is to promote, facilitate theand stimulate the voluntary deployment of carbon removals by operators or groups of operators. To that end, this Regulation establishes a voluntary Union framework for the certification of carbon removals by laying down:
Amendment 215 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) quality criteria for carbon removal activities that take place in the Union;
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) quality criteria for carbon removal activities that take place in the Union;
Amendment 244 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) ‘operator’ means any legal or physical person who operates or controls a carbon removal activity, or to whom decisive economic power over the technical functioning of the activity has been delegated. In order to receive a carbon farming payment an operator is a farmer as defined under Article 3(1) of Reg 22215/2021 or a forest owner or manager as defined by national legislation, who can demonstrate a long term control of the land for the duration of the scheme and is located in proximity to the land to enable appropriate management;
Amendment 246 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point i (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point d – point i (new)
i) Each carbon farming scheme should be linked to the specific parcels of land benefitting from the scheme on the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS).
Amendment 252 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) ‘permanent carbon storage’ means a carbon removal activity that, under normal circumstances and using appropriate management practices, stores atmospheric or biogenic carbon for several centuriesa significant period of time, including bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, biochar carbon removal and direct air carbon capture and storage;
Amendment 255 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point g
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point g
(g) ‘permanent carbon storage’ means a carbon removal activity that, under normal circumstances and using appropriate management practices, stores atmospheric or biogenic carbon for several centuriesa significant period of time, including bioenergy with carbon capture and storage and direct air carbon capture and storage;
Amendment 261 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point h
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point h
(h) ‘carbon farming’ means a carbon removal activity related to land management that results in the increase of carbon storage in living biomass, dead organic matter and soils by enhancing carbon capture and/or reducing the release of carbon to the atmosphere or other such activities that reduce the scope 1-3 emissions or displaced use of fossil fuels including solar, anaerobic digestion and the addition of biochar to soil;
Amendment 288 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Carbon removals shall be eligible for voluntary certification under this Regulation where they meet both of the following conditions:
Amendment 315 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. A carbon farming initiative can reward farms for i. a scheme that captures carbon; or ii. a scheme that achieves emission reductions.
Amendment 319 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4 a. All verified carbon farming certification schemes should be progressed in a timely manner, with no priority given to any particular methodology or sector.
Amendment 320 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 4 b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 4 b (new)
4 b. As part of the approval of a carbon farming certification scheme, the actor should demonstrate that they have minimised the bureaucratic burden for land managers.
Amendment 324 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 5
Article 4 – paragraph 5
5. The baseline shall correspond to the standard carbon removal or reduction performance of comparable activities in similar social, economic, environmental and technological circumstances and take into account the geographical context.
Amendment 328 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6
Article 4 – paragraph 6
6. By way of derogation from paragraph 5, where duly justqualified, the baselinecarbon value of the action may be based on the individual carbon removal performance of that activity or on the verification of actual individual carbon stocks by an independent body.
Amendment 331 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6 a. Additional carbon credit values can be rewarded where further benefits, such as biodiversity, can be verified by an independent body.
Amendment 332 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6 b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 6 b (new)
6 b. Enhanced carbon farming premium can be achieved by further actions that show improvement in other environmental indicators, such as improved biodiversity or measures that reduce the use of fossil fuels such as the installation of solar panels.
Amendment 333 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6 c (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 6 c (new)
6 c. Carbon farming certification schemes should also reward farmers for actions reducing their carbon footprint in other emission target categories such as LULUCF, energy and waste.
Amendment 334 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6 d (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 6 d (new)
6 d. More than one carbon farming scheme can be operated on a single land parcel as long as both schemes are independently verified and avoid double counting.
Amendment 335 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6 e (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 6 e (new)
6 e. Where a farmer or land manager works in conjunction with a downstream food processor to offset that food processor’s scope 3 emissions, they can be rewarded for this through a carbon farming certification scheme.
Amendment 336 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 4 – paragraph 6 f (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 6 f (new)
6 f. Early movers should not be disadvantaged if they can adequately demonstrate the MRV of the carbon farming activity.
Amendment 366 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The Commission shall provide funding for the establishment of carbon baselines and MRV as a public service, in recognition of the public good that is achieved through the locking of carbon in soils.
Amendment 377 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b
(b) they shall be subject to appropriate liability mechanisms in order to address any release of the stored carbon occurring during the monitoring period with the exception of where force majeure applies. Such circumstances may be protected through a mutual fund or insurance mechanism.
Amendment 379 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 – point b – point i (new)
i) Where public policy, in the public interest, mandates farmers to conduct an activity that reduces their carbon stocks, the farmer will not be held liable for the impact on carbon stocks of such required activities.
Amendment 384 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. For carbon farming and carbon storage in products, the carbon stored by a carbon removal activity shall be considered released to the atmosphere at the end of the monitoring period, except in cases where the economic operator proves, by means of permanent monitoring, that the carbon continues to be stored.
Amendment 397 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. A carbon removal activity shall have a neutral impact ondo minimal harm to or generate co- benefits for all the following sustainability objectives:
Amendment 429 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 3
Article 7 – paragraph 3
3. Where an operator or group of operators report co-benefits that contribute to the sustainability objectives referred to in paragraph 1 beyond the minimum sustainability requirements referred to in paragraph 2, they shall comply with the certification methodologies set out in delegated acts referred to in Article 8. The certification methodologies shall incentivise as much as possible the generation of co-benefits going beyond the minimum sustainability requirements, in particular for the objective referred to in paragraph 1, point (f) and provide additional reward for such co-benefits.
Amendment 437 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2
Article 8 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission is empowermandated to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 16 to establish the technical certification methodologies referred to in paragraph 1 for activities related to permanent carbon storage, carbon farming and carbon storage in products. Those certification methodologies shall include at least the elements set out in Annex I. Operators are entitled to seek approval for new technical certification methodologies as appropriate.
Amendment 443 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point i (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point i (new)
(i) The Commission should regularly put out a call for proposals of new technologies and regularly review the list of approved technologies to ensure BATS are deployed at all times.
Amendment 453 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) the objective of minimising administrative burden for operators, particularly for small-scale carbon farming operators; In developing a carbon certification scheme, operators should ensure that the administrative burden on land managers is minimal, to enable greater uptake.
Amendment 454 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) the objective of minimising administrative and financial burden for operators, particularly for small-scale carbon farming operators;
Amendment 455 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 – point d a (new)
(d a) the Commission shall provide a framework for other international certification schemes to achieve equivalence that enables them to align with EU certification standards.
Amendment 457 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 8 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. The economic situation, the evolution of the agricultural market, food security, ensuring the functioning of agri- food chains at local and regional level, and the degree of accessibility and availability of food in the EU.
Amendment 463 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 1
Article 9 – paragraph 1
1. To apply for a certification of compliance with this Regulation, an operator or a group of operators shall submit an application to a certification scheme. Upon acceptance of that application, the operator or a group of operators shall submit to a certification body a comprehensive description of the carbon removal activity, including the certification methodology applied to assess compliance with Articles 4 to 7, the expected total carbon removals and net carbon removal benefit. Groups of operators shall also specify how advisory services on carbon removal activities are provided and shall specify how they propose to minimise the administrative burden for land managers, in particular to small-scale carbon farming operators.
Amendment 471 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 4
Article 9 – paragraph 4
4. The operator or a group of operators shall support the certification body during certification and re- certification audits, notably by giving access to the activity premises and providing relevant data and documentation, while ensuring respect for national and European rules on the protection of personal data, know-how and trade secrets.
Amendment 474 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 9 – paragraph 5
Article 9 – paragraph 5
5. The Commission mayshall adopt implementing acts to set out the structure, format, technical details of the comprehensive description of the carbon removal activity referred to in paragraph 1, and of the certification and re-certification audit reports referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 17.
Amendment 482 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. A framework will be developed ensuring consistency across Member States to enable the operation of a common certification scheme across the Union.
Amendment 483 #
Proposal for a regulation
Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. The carbon farming model should work to establish a compatible system in countries that are willing to align with EU standards, such as Norway and Northern Ireland.