A Regulatory First: The CRCF Certification Takes Effect
February 2026 marks a defining moment in EU climate policy: the issuance of the first carbon removal certifications under the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF), established by EU Regulation 2024/3012. These initial certifications cover permanent geological carbon storage projects and selected durable bio-based carbon storage activities that applied for accreditation immediately following the entry into force of the Delegated Act on Permanent Removals in early February 2026.
The milestone is significant not for its immediate volume — the initial certified credits are modest in scale — but for what it represents: the activation of a regulatory architecture that will define the premium tier of European carbon markets for decades.
QU.A.L.ITY Criteria: The Certification Standard
All CRCF certifications are assessed against the QU.A.L.ITY framework, which operationalises the requirements of Article 4 of Regulation 2024/3012:
- QU — Quantification: Carbon removal must be accurately quantified using approved methodologies, with conservative accounting for uncertainty ranges. ISO 14064-2 compliance is the baseline standard.
- A — Additionality: The removal must be additional to what would have occurred without CRCF certification and the associated revenue.
- L — Long-term: The removal must be durable, with defined monitoring periods and buffer reserves to address reversal risk.
- I — Monitoring: Continuous or periodic monitoring must validate the carbon claims throughout the project lifetime.
- T — Third-party verification: Independent accredited verification by a CRCF-approved certification body is mandatory before credit issuance.
- Y — Sustainability co-benefits: Projects must demonstrate positive contributions to biodiversity, water, and soil — aligned with the EU Taxonomy DNSH criteria.
Market Pricing Response
The first CRCF-certified credits cleared on the nascent EU carbon removal market at prices between EUR 52 and EUR 68 per tonne CO2 — firmly within the EUR 40–70 range that market participants had projected for CRCF-grade carbon farming and agroforestry credits. This pricing confirms the market's willingness to pay a substantial premium for EU-regulatory-grade certification.
CRCF changes the European carbon market's architecture permanently. The distinction is no longer simply between voluntary and compliance credits — it is between EU-regulated removal certificates and everything else.
Carbon Farming Certification: Next in the Pipeline
The Delegated Act for Carbon Farming — covering agroforestry, soil carbon, and wetland restoration — is expected in summer 2026. Once adopted, projects such as VERDANTIS's Polyculture System will be eligible for full CRCF certification under the carbon farming methodology. VERDANTIS has structured its project documentation, ISO 14064-2 monitoring framework, and verification process to be fully compliant with the forthcoming Carbon Farming Delegated Act requirements.