The insights from the first European Carbon Farming Summit and the feedback received during the Public Consultation stage are key parts of the work currently being carried out within the 11 Focus Groups of Project Credible, with the second Summit on the horizon. The experts are now refining their recommendations on the best strategies to scale up robust climate actions, through engagement with stakeholders, assessment of methodologies, debates, collaborations, and the expansion of the Credible network.

The key outcomes of the Focus Groups in WP2 (“Navigating and selecting carbon standards and policy instruments”) are the following:

Minimum requirements to ensure carbon delivers sustainability benefits

The reduction of carbon markets to the commercialisation of carbon dioxide removals carries the risk of reducing the value of agro-ecosystems while neglecting or even damaging other ecosystem services, which needs to be avoided. In fact, the CRCF regulation stresses that removals must also generate co-benefits, while some people even claim that sustainability aspects should even be the main focus of carbon farming.

The issue of scale for the carbon certification framework

Even though a European carbon certification framework is required and expected to enhance trust investments in carbon farming projects, a high degree of centralisation could neglect regional issues and necessities. A good balance between the two extremes must be found, enabling harmonisation of practices and requirements, while allowing for local specificities and support to small stakeholders.

An effective policy mix for scaling up carbon farming

The tension between seeking environmental and climate benefits and attracting private investment that guarantees its long-term implementation must be resolved to foster successful carbon farming initiatives. A policy mix that includes both result and activity-based strategies might be the best way forward at least in the initial phase until MRV technology can fully support result-based schemes, capitalising on the strengths and avoiding the problems of both approaches.