Angelo Frascarelli, Paolo Emilio Bartolucci, Stefano Ciliberti

Note on carbon sequestration policies in the European Union

Introduction

Note on carbon sequestration policies in the european union. Explore EU carbon farming policies, their potential for climate mitigation, soil health, and air quality. Assesses CAP integration, voluntary markets, and certification challenges for enhancing carbon sequestration.

Abstract

This note examines the state of carbon farming (CF) policies in the European Union (EU), highlighting their potential to deliver significant public benefits, such as improved soil health, air quality, and climate mitigation. The existing mechanisms for encouraging carbon sequestration and evaluating alternative support scenarios are assessed, starting from analysing the regulation on carbon sequestration certification adopted by the European Parliament and the Council following a proposal from the European Commission. This note analyses the integration of CF into the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) through cross-compliance measures, eco-schemes, and Rural Development programmes. Additionally, it explores potential CF support frameworks, including exclusive reliance on the first CAP pillar, the voluntary carbon market, and mixed approaches. The analysis highlights several trade-offs: balancing CAP budget limitations with the need for stronger environmental measures, mitigating market uncertainty in the voluntary carbon market, and ensuring that certification costs do not deter farmer participation. Despite these challenges, the findings suggest that including CF within CAP, either as an alternative or complement to the voluntary carbon credit market, could enhance carbon sequestration and align EU agriculture with climate neutrality goals, particularly when supported by a structured certification system.

Review

This note offers a timely and pertinent examination of carbon farming (CF) policies within the European Union, a critical area given the pressing need for effective climate mitigation strategies in the agricultural sector. The paper effectively outlines the significant public benefits associated with CF, such as enhanced soil health, improved air quality, and tangible contributions to climate change mitigation. By assessing existing mechanisms for encouraging carbon sequestration and evaluating alternative support scenarios, the analysis provides a valuable overview of the policy landscape, anchoring its discussion in the recently adopted EU regulation on carbon sequestration certification. This foundational approach underscores the note's relevance to current policy debates. The review delves into the practical integration of CF within the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), scrutinizing its role through cross-compliance measures, eco-schemes, and Rural Development programmes. Furthermore, it comprehensively explores various potential support frameworks, ranging from exclusive reliance on the first CAP pillar to the voluntary carbon market and hybrid models. A particular strength of the analysis lies in its forthright identification of key policy trade-offs: the perennial challenge of balancing CAP budget limitations with the imperative for stronger environmental measures, the inherent market uncertainty within the voluntary carbon market, and the critical need to prevent certification costs from becoming a barrier to farmer participation. Overall, the note makes a robust case for the strategic inclusion of carbon farming within the CAP framework, positing it as either a complementary or alternative mechanism to the voluntary carbon credit market. The findings suggest that such integration, particularly when underpinned by a structured and accessible certification system, holds substantial promise for boosting carbon sequestration efforts and aligning EU agriculture more closely with the bloc's ambitious climate neutrality goals. While highlighting significant policy hurdles, the analysis ultimately provides a clear direction for policymakers seeking to leverage agricultural practices for environmental benefit, offering valuable insights for the continued evolution of sustainable agricultural policy in the EU.

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