Verra's feedback to USDA on voluntary carbon market

🗝️ As food, land, and agriculture (#FLAG) organizations endeavor to meet ambitious #ClimateGoals set by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), clear guidance is key. Our must-read guide, a collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund and EDF + Business, provides just that—clear guidance and a strategic framework for prioritizing 3️⃣ types of action: ➡️ Act to implement scalable solutions  ➡️ Advocate to reduce barriers to adoption of solutions  ➡️ Advance promising solutions from R&D to commercialization Dig into our findings and recommendations: https://lnkd.in/g4kW-JCP

I'm somewhat surprised by the dramatic reactions to changing the EU's #CarbonRemoval certification framework to #CarbonRemovals and #CarbonFarming. Since the legislative proposal was first published, it has not been exclusively about removals. Yes, many stakeholders strongly pushed to make it exclusively about removals—I myself was eagerly advocating for it as well—but unfortunately that didn't make it through the negotiations. Those who followed the process from the start still remember the events and speeches at which high-level Commission officials focused only on carbon farming in the CRCF context. Anyone who read the provisional agreement published in February saw that the title was changed from the original proposal to "Union certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products". The press release highlighted that the CRCF covers both removals and reductions. So, it was only a matter of time before the framework's name for daily use would be updated to reflect this. Does it mean that the CRCF covers more emission reduction activities from carbon farming than before? No, the agreed legislative text has not been changed. Does it bring more focus to carbon farming? Absolutely, and that is aligned with the Commission's narrative around the initiative from the start. Will the Carbon Removals Expert Group's name also be updated now? Let's see.

The Australian Government has agreed, or agreed in principle, to all 15 recommendations in the Climate Change Authority’s 2023 review of the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011, which establishes the Australian Carbon Credit Units Scheme. The #ACCUScheme is a voluntary scheme that supports investment in projects to reduce emissions or store carbon. The authority’s recommendations focus on:  • enhancing the scheme’s transparency, including publishing more information about ACCU projects and decisions made by the Integrity Committee • strengthening method review processes, including more regular reviews • increasing scheme participation for #FirstNations people and rural, regional and remote communities • keeping up with #globalcarbonmarket developments. The recommendations build on the Independent Review of the Australian Carbon Credit Units, led by Professor Ian Chubb AC, which also recommended improvements to governance, transparency and enhancing confidence in the integrity and effectiveness of the scheme. Read the government’s response https://bit.ly/3AIWm8M  

It's time to start a price signal to reduce agricultural GHG emissions, argues Ottmar #Edenhofer, EU chief #climate scientist & @MCC_Berlin @PIK_Climate Director, in @FT. Otherwise, it is “almost impossible” to cut overall 1990 emissions by 90% by 2040. https://lnkd.in/e2yUrUff

#EcoRegistry participated today in the "Rules on Verification and Registries" event, organized by the European Commission under the framework of the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Certification (CRCF). During this hybrid session, we provided key insights on the requirements for registries, such as the #transparency of information, process #traceability to ensure the quality of credits, and the use of advanced technology to safeguard credits, preventing double counting of environmental asset credits. 🌱 The CRCF establishes a voluntary certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming, and carbon storage in products, with verification requirements to be specified through EU Implementing Acts. The ideas discussed in this event will drive key actions toward a more robust and trustworthy carbon market. We are proud to have been part of this important conversation and thanks to the others panelists David Gazdag, Andrew V.. Juan David Duran Hernandez #CRCF #CarbonRemoval #Sustainability #Verification #CarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #EcoRegistry

Exciting news from our portfolio company, Central Coast Worm Farm! With the support of a new $4.2 million USDA grant https://lnkd.in/dJKXvfgB, the Central Coast team can expand its vermicompost operations — creating local jobs and scaling up its production of high-value soil amendments that divert agricultural waste from landfills, prevent greenhouse gas emissions, enhance soil health, and reduce run-off. Kudos to the team! Rich Baltimore Caleb Adams #Impact #sustainability #compost #USDA #regenerativeag

Current climate funding for agrifood systems is just ~$28.5B/year—far below the $200B-$1.2T needed annually to meet climate goals. Environmental Defense Fund’s new report, Funding the Future, reveals this massive climate-smart ag funding gap. The good news? Private sector leadership can fill it. Read how in the report: https://lnkd.in/ej3bmevq    #Sustainability #ClimateSmartAg #ClimateAction  

There is no #NetZero without an agricultural transformation and carbon removals We need financial incentives for land managers to build a climate-smart agricultural system, whereby today virtually all investment is coming from the private sector. The #SoilCarbon market is a pivotal mechanism in this context, aligning economic incentives with environmental stewardship. The mounting interest in regenerative agriculture from agribusinesses underscores its critical role in establishing a robust and resilient food supply. Great article by the International Soil Carbon Industry Alliance (ISCIA) members: Andrea Okun, Erica Johnson, Jeff Seale and Magda Kufrej (she/her). https://lnkd.in/dD2c7PM8

Did you know agriculture accounts for approximately 12% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.? While only a piece of the larger emissions pie, strategies to reduce agricultural emissions can also come with many benefits – as well as challenges! In a new report, the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis Sustainable Agriculture Catalyzer evaluated the potential for various GHG emission mitigation solutions and identified potential benefits and tradeoffs to farmers, communities, and ecosystems. Read more, https://bit.ly/4bfMwIk

📣 Have your say on the development of the European Commisions’ Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (#CRCF) Regulation 📣 🛡️ The CRCF establishes a voluntary certification framework for permanent carbon removals, carbon farming and carbon storage in products, which includes requirements for third party verification of carbon removal claims. 👉 The importance of the CRCF cannot be overstated: as a minimum, it will set the path for the use of CDR in European climate policy. Beyond that, I see it becoming the gold standard for CDR certification globally. 🤓 This hybrid workshop will present and discuss the preliminary findings and recommendations for technical rules based on the analysis of existing best practice on third-party verification, certification schemes, and registries. Session 1️⃣: Rules for third-party verification Session 2️⃣: Rules for certification schemes and certification bodies Session 3️⃣: Preliminary scoping of CRCF registry Session 4️⃣: Rules for certification registries 👀 More detailed agenda here: https://lnkd.in/dq3ek2R7 🗣️ The insights gathered during the workshop will feed into the ongoing work of the Commission. 📅 Monday 23 September 2024, 09:00 - 17:00 (CEST) in Brussels and online. 🙋 Register here: https://lnkd.in/d53VvbD4 🤞 Hope many of you will be able to attend and con tribute. #greendeal #carbonremovals #cdrpolicy #netzero