In view of the negotiations taking place in the European Parliament, Wetlands International Europe’s developed Voting Recommendations for negotiations on the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (file number 2022/0394(COD)).
Wetlands International Europe welcomes the European Commission’s recognition of the essential role of atmospheric carbon removal in achieving climate goals and welcomes the proposal for a Carbon Removal Certification Framework. We are hopeful that the proposed framework will streamline the multitude of existing certification schemes, facilitate more straightforward comparisons, and crucially, help to mobilize urgently needed finance for protecting wetlands vast C-pools and unique biodiversity.
Our recommendations are centered on addressing carbon farming on peatlands and Mediterranean wetlands. While our perspective may be limited to wetlands, it is crucial to highlight their unparalleled role of as the most efficient terrestrial carbon sink. Most wetlands have very carbon rich soils – consisting of decomposing vegetation that has accumulated over millennia – that continue to emit GHG upon conversion and degradation or that continue to sequester GHG (albeit slowly) when restored. To reduce emissions and advance on climate mitigation, the conservation of wetlands is key to keep carbon stored, while the restoration of altered wetlands is crucial for reducing carbon emissions and may also result in emission removals in the long-term.
WIEA-voting-recommendations-EU-CRCF_Final.pdf
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