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Explore every episode of the podcast The CDR Policy Scoop

Dive into the complete episode list for The CDR Policy Scoop. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Our 2025 CDR Policy Predictions15 Jan 202500:28:03

What will be the main themes and developments this year?


2025 will likely be the biggest year for CDR policy to date. Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart compared and discussed their top 5 predictions, covering national, regional, and global CDR policy.


Tune in to get to know what to look out for in 2025.


Show notes:


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The EU's 2040 Climate Target(s): What to expect?15 Jan 202500:29:45

The EU’s 2040 Climate Target(s): hope in difficult times or empty promises?


In 2025, the European Union will attempt to formalise a binding target for emission reduction in 2040. This would complement the existing 55% reduction target for 2030 and a climate neutrality target for 2050.


As of today, the European Commission plans to recommend an ambitious 90% reduction target for 2040. In the current political landscape, this will be a contested proposal.


What about the role of carbon dioxide removal? Will we be seeing the much asked for dedicated durable CDR target? 


For the last CDR Policy Scoop of the year, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart dive into this hot topic, which will likely shape much of 2025’s climate advocacy work in the EU.


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CRCF: Did the EU get it right?15 Jan 202500:29:11

The CRCF - the gold standard for CDR certification?


Some see it as the world's most important CDR policy, others just as an empty shell with no clear impact. 


In this CDR Policy Scoop, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart dive into this hot topic they both feel very passionately about.


Tune in to hear where it currently stands, what some of the sticking points are, and how it will fit into European climate policy (or not).


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US Election: What does it mean for carbon removal? - with Jason Grillo15 Jan 202500:28:24

What will the Trump victory mean for CDR?


Speculation is rife - is this the end of CDR in the U.S., a blessing in disguise, or simply not that important?


In this CDR Policy Scoop, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart are joined by the one and only Jason Grillo to dig into what this Republican trifecta of control over the White House, House of Congress, and Senate means for CDR – on both federal and state level – and also the implications for the world at large. 


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COP29: CDR’s big moment?15 Jan 202500:28:19

Will COP29 be the breakthrough COP for CDR?


What a start! Article 6.4 standards were adopted on day 1 of COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. What does this actually mean, and what else can we expect?


In this CDR Policy Scoop, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart try to make sense of a topic that has generated a lot of excitement but also raised some serious questions.


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Welcome to the CDR Policy Scoop13 Jan 202500:04:35

The CDR Policy Scoop, where we unpack carbon removal policy in 30 minutes or less.


Punchy, unfiltered, to the point discussions on all hot developments in the sector. 


Listen in to go several levels deeper and beyond the analysis that you won't find anywhere else. Enjoy.


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Trump’s Inauguration: What will happen to CDR in the US? - with Erin Burns23 Jan 202500:27:21

Donald J. Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. As soon as he took office, executive orders were signed affecting all areas of the U.S. society and economy, including climate and CDR. 


Joined by Erin Burns, the Executive Director of the U.S.’ leading CDR nonprofit Carbon180, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart try to make sense of a dynamic and fragile situation.


From the impact on the international stage, to how existing policy successes can be defended, to changes in narrative we might - or maybe absolutely shouldn’t - adopt.


Tune in to find out more.


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How will the EU fund CDR?31 Jan 202500:26:46

On January 28th, the European Commission hosted a long-awaited workshop on public funding for permanent CDR. Expectations were high - maybe too high?


What came out of it and what is lined up for funding of CDR in Europe? Both Eve (in person) and Sebastian (remote) attended, and are bringing you all the insights you need to know.


Tune in to find out more


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Like-For-Like: The policy silver bullet? - with Robert Höglund06 Feb 202500:27:16

In carbon removal policy circles, three simple words - like-for-like - seem to come up more and more. It is a simple and obvious concept that is actually incredibly complex and misunderstood.


Robert Höglund joins Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart in exploring like-for-like as a concept, why it is becoming a core pillar of CDR policy design and what net-zero targets should actually look like.


Tune in to find out more


Links:


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CDR into the EU ETS: Boom or doom?19 Feb 202500:28:05

Emission trading systems (ETS) are often touted as the largest potential source of demand for carbon dioxide removal (CDR), providing a large, predictable market worth billions. 


The EU ETS is by far the largest and most successful in the world, with its market size around 900 billion EUR and carbon price climbing over 80 EUR/t. 


2025 is the time when a lot of decisions to critical questions will need to be answered. From the design of such integration, to a selection of which CDR technologies, to the volume allowed.


Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart debate this hot topic where their views don’t always align.


Tune in to find out more.


Links:


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CDR at DoE is dead... or is it? - with Noah Deich26 Feb 202500:29:10

In February 2025, all probationary contract staff at the Department of Energy were terminated, including the most incredibly talented and experienced people who had turned the U.S. into a CDR powerhouse over the previous years.


What does this - alongside the freezing of IRA and BIL funds - mean for CDR in the U.S. moving forward? How will DAC Hubs be affected? What about the Public Procurement Purchase Prize?


To make sense of this very difficult and sensitive situation, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart are joined by the one and only Noah Deich, who initiated and led many of the CDR initiatives the DoE became famous for.


Tune in to find out more.


Links:


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Will the EU need twice as much CDR as expected?06 Mar 202500:27:47

Will the EU need 2x as much CDR?


The highly anticipated 333-page milestone report on carbon removal by Europe's Scientific Advisory Board has landed, promising to be the most comprehensive analysis of CDR to date. 


Does this heavyweight report deliver the strategic guidance needed to shape effective EU CDR policy? What other crucial insights does it offer – and more importantly, what might it have missed?


Eve and Sebastian delve into the report and share their take.


Tune in to find out more.


Links:


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CORSIA vs ETS: What will actually clean up aviation? 14 Mar 202500:28:25

Aviation is responsible for almost 1Gt of CO2 emissions, or 2.5% of global emissions. Up to 4% when accounting for non-CO2 climate warming effects. And demand is only going up: 3-4% year-on-year.


Aviation is also notoriously hard to decarbonise: most hope is placed on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Given there will always be considerable residual emissions (ICAO: 200Mt-950Mt in 2050), carbon removal is central to aviation’s net-zero aspiration for 2050.


From a policy perspective, it is incredibly challenging to regulate, as 61% of aviation emissions are emitted on international flights and only 39% within a single country’s boundaries.


A promising solution is emission trading systems for domestic/regional emissions (think EU ETS) and CORSIA for international emissions.


Sounds easy? The reality is incredibly complex, messy, and potentially worrying.


Listen in to hear Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart unpack this topic and provide clear solutions for what could be done in future.


Links:


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SBTi: Step forward or missed opportunity for CDR? - with Robert Höglund21 Mar 202500:27:43

8,000 companies have emission reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Only around 50 of them have so far purchased durable carbon removal.


Imagine if all of them purchased CDR? The impact could be >50Mt of demand. Per year. Starting from 2030.


On March 18th, the SBTi released the draft net-zero standard 2.0 which marks a potential inflection point. Will it:

  • Drive companies to begin CDR purchases immediately?
  • Keep CDR voluntary until the 2040s?
  • ⁠Inadvertently push companies away from SBTi due to concerns about mandatory CDR costs?


To make sense of this wide spectrum of possibilities, the CDR Policy Scoop is delighted to have Robert Höglund back on the show. He has been a member of the external SBTi Technical Advisory Group and understands the process and its implications for CDR like no other.


Links:


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SHOWDOWN: Biochar vs Direct Air Capture - with Martin Freimüller07 Apr 202500:26:08

A fun, interactive, first-of-a-kind live debate with over 1000 attendees signed up.


We picked two real heavyweights: DAC, the poster-child of CDR, with over 200 DAC companies founded to date. On the other hand, biochar, responsible for a whopping 84% of all durable CDR deliveries to date.


In the DAC corner: Martin Freimüller is the Co-Founder and CEO of Octavia Carbon – the first DAC company in the Global South and fifth largest in the world. He moved his life to Kenya in 2021, upon realising it's the world's best place for DAC.


In the Biochar corner: Sebastian Manhart is Senior Policy Advisor at Carbonfuture and a Board Member of the International Biochar Initiative. Few post as much about biochar as Sebastian. 


Moderated by the CDR Policy Scoop co-host Eve Tamme to keep it punchy (not literally), informative, and entertaining. 


Disclaimer: The primary objective of this debate is to inform & entertain, not to create division. It takes ALL CDR methods to reach the gigaton scale.


Links:


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Rethinking Net-Zero: Do international credits help or harm?03 Apr 202500:24:19

On March 31st, EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra floated various ideas for how Europe’s expected 90% emission reduction target for 2040 could be achieved.


One of them: letting EU countries purchase United Nations Article 6 credits to meet EU's 2040 climate target. Similar suggestions are currently being proposed by the upcoming German government.


This would require undoing a core principle of Europe’s Climate Law: only European reductions and removals shall count towards climate neutrality.


The backlash has been significant, especially in civil society and environmental groups.


But could this - with some modifications - actually provide a smart path for Europe?


Links:


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CBAM: The carbon removal catalyst? - with Dan Maleski15 Apr 202500:27:50

How can the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism help scale carbon dioxide removal?


Designed to put a price on imported carbon and prevent leakage, but could it also act as a catalyst for scaling CDR?


This CDR Scoop cuts through the noise to explore this critical link. We're digging deep to uncover the potential synergies and challenges.


To ensure we cover all angles, we're thrilled to welcome leading CBAM expert Dan Maleski from Redshaw Advisors. Get ready for unparalleled insights from someone truly in the know!


Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme for another insightful and punchy 30-minute session. Let's unpack this complex topic together.


Links:


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CO₂: Waste or commodity? - with Rachael Moore28 Apr 202500:27:00

Are we scrubbing the smokestacks and skies of a waste gas, or creating a valuable resource for a net-zero world?


As carbon management technologies like CCS, CCU, DACCS, and BECCS advance, policymakers and markets are narrowing down on CO₂’s role.


In this CDR Policy Scoop, we dive into:

  • What happens if we treat CO₂ only as waste?
  • ⁠What is the real potential for CO₂ to be commoditized?
  • ⁠How does this debate shape business models, public acceptance, and climate impact?


We’re thrilled to welcome seasoned carbon management expert Rachael Moore from CarbStrat as a guest with unparalleled insights on the topic.


This session is a must for anyone interested in the future of carbon markets, policy innovation, and scaling high-quality carbon removal. There’s a lot to explore!


Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme for a fast-paced, 30-minute session that gets right to the heart of the debate.


Links:


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EU ETS: Is this the most important consultation of the year?02 May 202500:27:43

It's out: the European Commission published a consultation to gather feedback on what the world's largest emission trading system - the EU ETS - should look like after 2031.


For carbon removals, integration into the EU ETS represents one of the most promising paths to predictable demand at scale. Whether and how that will happen is still up for debate.


A unique opportunity to get involved with such a crucial legislative process from the get-go.


Join Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart for a punchy 30-min discussion that dives into the consultation, its implications, and what a potential call to action for the CDR industry could look like.


Links:


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Can we bank on Canada’s new PM to deliver carbon promises? - with Na'im Merchant13 May 202500:27:04

Against all odds, the Liberal Party just won the Canadian general elections. Mark Carney’s party explicitly campaigned to turn Canada into a global leader in carbon dioxide removal.


Canada plans to do so by - among other things - extending its investment tax credit to 2035, supporting a broad range of CDR tech, and introducing dedicated CDR targets for 2035 and 2040.


This all sounds incredibly promising. But will Canada be able to realise this ambition?


No better person to answer this question than Na'im Merchant, Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, an organisation that has been instrumental in raising the profile of CDR in Canada over the last two years.


Na’im joins co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme for a fast-paced, 30-minute session that gets right to the heart of the debate.


Links:


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Public Subsidies + Carbon Credits: The winning combo? - with Erik Rylander25 May 202500:25:40

Many projects want to blend public funding with revenue from voluntary carbon markets as carbon removal scales up.


Meanwhile, governments have different approaches to it. And sceptics keep questioning whether it makes sense in the first place - what about additionality, corresponding adjustments, and real climate impact?


We’re excited to welcome Erik Rylander, the Head of CDR at Stockholm Exergi, to share his immense experience in innovative funding for their successful BECCS project. We will dig into the real-world lessons from Stockholm Exergi’s journey and explore what policymakers and project developers need to know to make this approach work.


Erik joins CDR Policy Scoop co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart for an insightful and frank conversation on this controversial topic.


Links:

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A European CDR Purchasing Programme28 May 202500:26:57

A European CDR Purchasing Programme for Permanent Carbon Removal?


Sounds too good to be true? Well, it may become a reality soon.


On May 21st, the European Commission held a dedicated workshop on “A Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits”.


As stated in its own excellent pre-read, Europe will need to fund CDR with up to €6 billion by 2030 to achieve its indicative target of 5 Mt/year.


But where should this money come from? How should a purchasing programme be designed? And should it fund specific CDR technologies or take a broad portfolio approach?


These are just some of the many fascinating questions that were tackled in the workshop. Tune in for this CDR Policy Scoop, where Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart will analyse everything that happened and discuss the most important takeaways for you.


Links:


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The world's first durable CDR transaction under the Paris Agreement - with Veronika Elgart22 Jun 202500:26:58

The Paris Agreement's carbon markets could be worth up to $250 billion annually and reduce or remove gigatons of CO2.


But how do we operationalise it? How can countries start trading durable removals under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6.2 mechanism?


Norway and Switzerland have just agreed on the first durable removals transaction under this framework. For their pilots, planned to be executed pre-2030, they aim to transfer up to 10 Kt of BECCS from Norway and up to 1 Kt of mineralised CO2 from Switzerland.


Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart are joined by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment FOEN’s Veronika Elgart, one of the leading forces behind this agreement. Together, they discuss how this agreement came about, what exactly is planned, and what this could mean for scaling up the international carbon markets more broadly.


Show notes:



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Aligning the VCM with Government Policy - with Alexia Kelly24 Jun 202500:29:15

Should the VCM shape or follow government policy?


The Voluntary Carbon Market is at a crossroads as governments ramp up climate ambition and explore carbon markets.


What would a genuine alignment between VCM and government policy look like? What are the risks and opportunities? How can the VCM support both national and global net-zero goals? 


To help us dig into these questions and more, we’re thrilled to welcome a leading voice in carbon markets and climate policy, Alexia Kelly from High Tide Foundation.


Join as co-hosts Eve Tamme, Sebastian Manhart, and Alexia Kelly unpack the latest developments and spotlight some of the big questions. This is a discussion policymakers, market participants, and climate advocates won’t want to miss.


Links:


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SHOWDOWN: Reductions vs Removal Credits - with Renat Heuberger and Marta Krupinska30 Jun 202500:38:15

This gets to the core of the carbon market debate.


Reductions, including avoidance credits, currently account for over 95% of credits in the VCM. Meanwhile, removal credits are rapidly gaining momentum, with $6.5B in purchases to date, outpacing the growth of all other credit types.


In the Reductions corner, no less than Renat Heuberger, CEO at Terra Impact Ventures and Founder / former CEO at South Pole, who has been at the forefront of the VCM for nearly two decades.


In the Removals corner, the one and only Marta Krupinska, CEO at CUR8, and tireless champion for permanent carbon removals. From afforestation to biochar to DAC, Marta is leading the charge for all of CDR every day.


The debate is expertly moderated by our co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme, who will ensure its punchy, informative, and fair. 


Disclaimer: This is intended to inform and engage, not divide. Both debaters agree: we need both reductions and removals to tackle the climate crisis.


Links:


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Green Claims Directive: what is happening? - with Elisabeth Harding26 Jun 202500:29:04

One of the world's first regulations to fight corporate greenwashing is on the final stretch. Or is it?


The final trilogue, the negotiations between the three EU institutions, was pushed back to June 23rd but was ultimately cancelled. A push by the German government and the conservative EPP group in Parliament has led the policy process off the rails, with the European Commission considering withdrawing its proposal.


Critics of the GCD highlight the increased complexity and costs for industry, which is already struggling across Europe. Proponents see it as an essential tool to help ensure companies back up environmental claims with scientifically sound measures.


And what about CDR? If passed, the GCD could make the use of carbon removal a requirement, leading to significant demand.


Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart will be joined by Elisabeth Harding, one of Brussels' finest CDR policy experts, to discuss the latest developments and next steps.



Show notes:



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EU’s 2040 targets: will CDR hit the bullseye? 03 Jul 202500:27:35

A day after the European Commission published its legislative proposal for the EU’s 2040 climate target, Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart sat down for a timely session to analyse the proposal.


Although the expected 90% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 (compared to 1990 levels) is the headline target, several key elements in the proposal have elicited strong reactions among stakeholders.


And what does it all mean for carbon removal?


The CDR Policy Scoop co-hosts cut through the noise and analyse how the proposal could evolve during the upcoming negotiations.


Links:


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Can Germany lead the way on CDR Policy? - with Nadine Walsh10 Jul 202500:28:29

Not one week passes without news of major developments coming out of Germany: earlier in the year, Europe’s biggest economy became the first country in the world to enshrine a net-zero target (2045) into its constitution.


Following the recent election, the ruling coalition then included carbon removal in its coalition treaty. More recently, a line dedicated to CDR was added to the federal budget and rumour has it that large sums of funding could soon be allocated to this as early as 2026.


Could Germany become the global powerhouse for CDR? And what will it take exactly to get there?


Co-host Eve Tamme discusses this and more with Nadine Walsh, the Policy Manager from the Deutscher Verband für negative Emissionen e.V. (DVNE) - Germany’s national CDR association.



Links:

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The EU’s first CRCF methodologies: are they good to go?15 Jul 202500:27:43

The first methodologies for permanent removals under the EU’s Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Regulation are being finalised.


The European Commission’s 8th Carbon Removal Expert Group meeting, held on 10 July, was dedicated to a draft delegated act on DACCS, BioCCS, and biochar.


Does this draft piece of legislation do justice to the CDR methods under consideration? Or does it fall short, and the Commission consultants should be sent back to the drawing board?


Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme as they analyse the heated discussions in the expert group and the next steps.


Links:


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CDR Durability: What counts as real climate impact? - with Gabrielle Walker22 Jul 202500:29:00

Like it or not, the “like-for-like” debate in carbon removal isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Conversations around temporary versus durable, conventional versus novel removals are increasingly diverging. 


Should carbon markets foresee separate roles for these removal types, or strive for a common ground that makes all removals comparable? Is true compatibility even possible?


Co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are delighted to welcome Gabrielle Walker, co-founder of Rethinking Removals and CUR8, as their guest. Scientist-turned-CDR powerhouse, Gabrielle has a deep understanding and passion for these topics like no other. 


Join the conversation to find out what “like-for-like” really means, why it matters for policy and net-zero claims, and how to build integrity with today’s knowledge.


Links:


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CDR and Credibility: Unpacking reversal rules under Article 6.4 - with Danny Cullenward31 Jul 202500:30:23

The Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM, also known as the Article 6.4 mechanism) is going through another round of public consultations. One key document on the table is the draft standard on non-permanence/reversals, which has sparked a lot of questions.


What are the options on the table? What does it mean for different types of carbon removal projects? How are the various documents up for public consultation via the Methodology Expert Panel and the PACM Supervisory Body connected?


There is no better person to help with deciphering the content and process than Danny Cullenward, a member of the PACM Methodological Expert Panel. Co-author of the influential book “Making Climate Policy Work”, his research and advice have influenced the architecture of carbon markets globally. Danny speaks in his individual capacity and does not represent the MEP or the PACM at our live session.


Join co-host Eve Tamme and Danny as they discusses the reversals standard under consideration, and what it means for building international carbon markets under the Paris Agreement.


Links:


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Is the UK quietly leading the CDR charge? - with Ted Christie-Miller29 Jul 202500:28:57

We’ve covered a lot of CDR policy developments in Europe and across the pond in the United States. But, truth be told, the UK is a bit of a blind spot for us.


The UK’s Net-Zero Strategy was one of the first to establish an engineered Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR aka CDR) target. And only days before our scoop, the UK government has confirmed its plan to integrate removals into the UK ETS by 2029, with legislation targeted for 2028.


Is the UK quietly and humbly leading the way in CDR? What will it take for it to truly become a global leader in carbon management?


To help us better understand it all, we’re delighted to welcome special guest Ted Christie-Miller, co-founder of Residual. He’s shaped the UK’s conversation on CDR market frameworks and policy strategy.


Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they learn from Ted about the UK’s CDR landscape, including the government’s approach to carbon markets and the expansion of the UK ETS, as well as the future outlook.



Links:

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The LULUCF Squeeze: Can policy save the EU's fading carbon sink? - with Asger Strange Olesen07 Aug 202500:27:50

Europe’s forests and soils have been acting as an indispensable cushion for our climate targets, currently offsetting around 6% of the EU’s GHG emissions. 


But the LULUCF sink - the EU’s natural carbon safety net - has dropped by 30% compared to the previous decade. Recent projections highlight a crucial gap between the climate target and the current sink.


Is Europe’s land carbon sink slipping away? What will it take to bring it back? Can smart and innovative policy design turn the tide on the EU’s carbon sink? 


Enter Asger Strange Olesen, one of Europe’s leading voices on climate and land sector policy. He’s the Global Head of Climate and Biodiversity at the International Woodland Company and is heavily involved in the CRCF as an Independent Member of the EU Carbon Removal Expert Group.


Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they learn from Asger the science behind the shrinking sink, explore current EU policy responses, and uncover the best CDR policy solutions to enhance land-based removals.


Links:


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Scoop School Lesson 1: Carbon Removal Accounting13 Aug 202500:27:28

It may still be summer, but the new series, “Scoop School”, is now in session. First lesson: Carbon Removal Accounting. Which is not the same as MRV, and the lesson will get to that.


Countries are facing new and urgent questions regarding how to account for removals, whether it's within the context of the Paris Agreement’s Crediting Mechanism PACM, the EU’s CRCF, or incorporating removals into emission trading systems. 


All of this has a tangible impact on which carbon removal methods can be scaled via compliance markets, and oftentimes comes as a surprise to those active exclusively in voluntary markets.


The inaugural “Scoop School” lesson will cover:

  • What types of removals are included in the national accounting
  • Which ones are not
  • And which ones are in the grey zone


Where are the blind spots? Join co-hosts Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme as they delve into these questions and more to make sense of the current state of play.


Links:


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Scoop School Lesson 2: Carbon Removal Leaders & Laggards20 Aug 202500:29:14

Scoop School is back in session.


The second lesson: Who’s leading and who’s lagging in carbon removal (CDR) policy?

  • Who’s getting it right, and who’s falling behind?
  • What works in CDR policy design?
  • Is it possible to replicate successes across borders?


Yes, durable CDR policy is still in its early stages, but our in-depth looks at the UK, Switzerland, and Germany have proven there’s already a lot to discuss—and a lot others can learn from.


Sebastian has been tracking these policy trends closely and will join Eve to unpack the best, the most ambitious, and the key lessons so far.


Links:


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How Far Can the EU’s Market-Shaping Purchasing Programme Go? - with Hugh McDonald16 Sep 202500:27:26

Achieving the EU’s aspirational 2030 target of 5 MtCO₂-e  in permanent removals per year requires an €2.4–6.7 billion in investment. Fast forward to 2040, we’ll need to reach 75 Mt – or even as high as 280 Mt – according to Carbon Gap. The policy, funding, and market implications are enormous.


A well-designed EU purchasing programme can have a significant impact on making it happen.


Recently, the EU Commission released three (!) major reports charting the course for the forthcoming EU purchasing programme for permanent carbon removals. One of these reports provides an in-depth policy assessment and puts forward a policy blueprint for the programme, building on the spring workshop that we featured at CDR Policy Scoop back in May.


We’re honoured to welcome our guest, Hugh McDonald, Senior Fellow at Ecologic Institut and the lead author of the report. Hugh has unmatched insights to dissect all the details.


Join in as co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart get the inside track on how the purchasing programme could be implemented.


Links:


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The UK means business: Examining the GGR Business Model - with Laura Hurley12 Sep 202500:29:38

At the end of August, the UK government released over 500 pages of documentation on how it plans to finance the scale-up of removals.


There is a lot to talk about: the UK has committed over £22B to CCUS (including CDR) over 25 years, of which £9.4B has already been allocated in the 2025 Spending Review.


It has also recently released its vision for how to integrate CDR into the UK ETS, potentially as early as 2029 (ahead of the EU).


Now it suggests 15-year carbon contracts for difference (CCfDs) for BECCS and DACCS projects, as well as up to 50% of CAPEX support.


We’re grateful to welcome Laura Hurley, an absolute UK policy pro, to unpack these news. In fact, she set up the UK’s first GGR policy team back in 2020.


Join as co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart go deep on what could be the most ambitious CDR policies in Europe to date.


Links:


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Carbon Credit Ratings: What really matters right now? - with Bojana Bajzelj10 Sep 202500:26:07

Carbon rating agencies have increasingly become an indispensable pillar of carbon market infrastructure. While originally created to solve deep-seated quality and integrity concerns in the voluntary carbon markets, they are now also playing a role in compliance markets.


What really goes into rating carbon removal projects, and what are the expected future developments? With the ICVCM establishing Core Carbon Principles eligibility for some CDR methods, will project-based ratings still be necessary?


To help us untangle this, we’re excited to welcome Bojana Bajzelj, PhD, VP of Carbon Removal at BeZero Carbon, one of the leading carbon ratings agencies. She brings unique expertise on what makes a carbon credit truly credible in a rapidly changing landscape.


Join as co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart get clarity on trust, quality, and the future of CDR in carbon markets. Tune in for sharp insights into the science and analysis that underpin ratings, as well as a candid discussion on the future of credit ratings.


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CDR Credits from the Global South: Problem or Solution? - with Fiona Mugambi26 Sep 202500:26:47

The EU’s 2040 Climate Target debate is heating up. At stake: whether to allow international carbon credits at all - and if so, how many and what kind.


The European Union is split: some push to ban credits outright, while others want to allow plenty and as early as 2031. The current 3% proposal would mean up to 400 Mt of international credits by 2040.


Such a volume could literally ignite whole industries across numerous countries, with all the benefits that can bring to local communities. But the concerns centre around whether it would water down the EU’s own climate action.


Should the EU be allowing international credits, especially from the Global South, to achieve its climate targets? If so, should it focus on durable removals and be limited only for hard to hard-to-abate emissions?


Co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart are delighted to be joined by Fiona Mugambi, Head of Growth & Partnerships at Octavia Carbon and Policy Lead at The Global South CDR Coalition. Fiona brings first-hand insights from Africa’s leading DAC initiative and a coalition that can shape debates in Brussels.


Join in as Eve, Sebastian and Fiona unpack one of the hottest debates in EU climate policy right now.


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Are ERW and OAE ready for Carbon Removal Certification? - with Rachel Smith01 Oct 202500:29:01

On 25 September, the European Commission convened its first Technical Workshop on Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) and Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) under the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming framework (CRCF). This marks the formal beginning of the journey toward EU recognition of these technologies.


The context is clear: DACCS, BECCS, and biochar methodologies are soon settled, but permanent removals need more arrows in their quiver. The Commission is now turning to the next set of methods.


Key questions remain wide open:

– How mature is the science for robust MRV?

– How will permanence, leakage, and environmental impacts be addressed?

– What pace can we realistically expect for final CRCF methodologies for ERW and OAE?


We’re delighted to be joined by Rachel Smith, Policy Director at Cascade Climate. Rachel has been at the forefront of shaping policy pathways for ERW, in particular, and will help us put the workshop discussions into perspective.


Join in as co-host Eve Tamme dissects the details, challenges, and opportunities ahead with Rachel.


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The Removal Compliance System: North Star for CDR demand in Europe? - with Francesca Battersby08 Oct 202500:27:25

The EU carbon removal purchasing programme and potential integration of removals into the ETS have generated plenty of buzz. Yet these could just be a first step in a longer policy sequence.


Could a CDR Compliance System be the north star to aim for in the longer term?


Carbon Gap has just unveiled its new report looking at how to drive long-term demand for permanent carbon removals across Europe.


In it, they examine different options for a Removal Compliance System (RCS), looking at both traditional emissions-based obligations and economy-wide mandates. 


Could the RCS spark fresh opportunities and big debates? How can Europe develop and design a new mode of compliance?


We’re thrilled to welcome special guest Francesca Battersby, Senior Policy Analyst at Carbon Gap and the lead author of the report, to explore this exciting topic together. She brings all the exclusive insights to help dissect the concepts on the table.


Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they explore with Francesca what makes the RCS a potential game-changer and what issues to watch out for.


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What's next for CDR in aviation & shipping - with Robert Höglund29 Oct 202500:28:38

The IMO just paused its carbon price: What’s next for shipping, and will aviation follow suit?


Just months after the world celebrated the first-ever global carbon price for the maritime sector, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has now suspended it for one year.


This came as a result of heavy pressure from the U.S., with smaller countries reportedly threatened with tariffs, sanctions, and even visa restrictions for UN staff.


Shipping and aviation are two of the hardest to decarbonise sectors, which most necessitate clear regulation and - potentially - the use of carbon dioxide removal (CDR).


So where does that leave us? What are the policy opportunities - national, regional, and global - that we should be focusing on to tackle hard-to-abate emissions in these two sectors? And is climate multilateralism dead?


In this CDR Policy Scoop, the one and only Robert Höglund joins co-host Sebastian Manhart to unpack these questions and make sense of the mess we just witnessed.


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Inside the UK GGR / CDR Review - with Georgia Berry27 Oct 202500:25:52

CDR Policy Scoop is back with a deep dive into one of the most consequential CDR policy reviews to date: the Independent Review of Greenhouse Gas Removals, led by Dr Alan Whitehead and published on October 23rd 2025. Almost 200 pages packed with fascinating insights on the future of UK CDR policy.


To unpack what this means, Sebastian Manhart and Eve Tamme are joined by Georgia Berry, CDR Programme Director at the Green Finance Institute and one of the UK’s leading voices on GGRs/CDR.


Together they explore:

- What “Geological Net Zero” actually means — and why it matters

- How the Review’s five headline recommendations could reshape UK CDR

- Why the proposed Net Zero Aviation Mandate might be a game-changer

- Where nature-based removals still fit in a permanence-driven framework


Tune in to understand the Review everyone in the carbon removal world is talking about - and what it means for the UK’s path to a truly geological net zero future.


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SHOWDOWN: Voluntary vs Compliance Markets - with Tito Jankowski22 Oct 202500:32:57

CDR Policy Scoop is proud to present the next SHOWDOWN in the first-ever live debate in a hybrid format — on stage and streamed live: Voluntary vs Compliance Markets.


The race to scale carbon removal is on – but which market will get us there first? Voluntary buyers are moving billions, experimenting, and taking early risks. Compliance markets promise scale, rigour, and integration into national climate strategies.


We are excited to be taking our debate live on stage at Carbon Unbound Europe.


In the Voluntary Corner: TITO JANKOWSKI, CEO of the AirMiners, a community and accelerator for carbon removal leaders. Tito needs no introduction: he is known across the industry for his boundless passion for CDR (and for having invented the official CDR greeting).


In the Compliance Corner: our very own Eve Tamme, Managing Director of Climate Principles, and one of the leading policy experts for all things carbon markets and CDR. With over two decades of policy work, few understand compliance better than her.


Sebastian Manhart moderates as the two sides go head-to-head to keep things punchy, informative, and entertaining.. 


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Article 6.4 Non-Permanence Standard: Progress or Confusion? - with Olga Gassan-zade18 Oct 202500:26:59

What does the new Article 6.4 Standard on Non-Permanence and Reversals mean for carbon removal projects?


It has just been adopted by the Supervisory Body after lengthy deliberations and a huge inflow of stakeholder comments.


The new standard remains controversial. Some stakeholders welcome the adopted standard, given its improvements compared to the draft versions. Others highlight the negative impacts on the carbon markets due to pushing decisions on key elements (like the percentage of negligible risk and post-crediting monitoring period) down to the methodology level. 


How will the new standard impact carbon removal project development and the approval process?


We’re excited to welcome Olga Gassan‑zade, a member of the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body, to share personal views on these developments and explore what they mean for carbon removal projects and stakeholders worldwide.


Join co‑host Eve Tamme for this deep‑dive on permanence, governance, and the future of carbon removal under the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism.


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The Carbon Paradox: Saving the planet was never meant to be simple - with Renat Heuberger31 Oct 202500:28:16

We all know that climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation, and for many of us, it’s our life’s work. If you’re like us, you spend most of your reading time on non-fiction - whether that’s endless reports, briefs, news, and feeds. 


We have a refreshing new way to digest some of the heaviest topics in this climate fight. 


The Carbon Paradox is a fictional book based on facts. Along the way, the characters meet 25 paradoxical issues, which cover the entire controversy from carbon credits to climate finance. And learn why carbon markets will never be perfect.


We’re delighted to uncover some of these paradoxes with author Renat Heuberger, CEO at Terra Impact Ventures. Renat is a Swiss climate activist, serial entrepreneur, and impact investor who has spent two decades at the forefront of the VCM. 


Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart as they dive into some of their favourite climate paradoxes with Renat.


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COP30 - A Breakthrough Moment for Carbon Removal? - with Chris Neidl05 Nov 202500:30:02

It’s that time of year again - COP30 is just around the corner. This year in Belém, Brazil, CDR has stepped up its game and will have its first-ever CDR Pavilion in the blue zone. 


This was made possible by CDR30, the Global Carbon Dioxide Removal Initiative, consisting of a unified global CDR community of over 60 organisations across the ecosystem. Their mission: elevating CDR’s essential role in climate action at COP30.


A physical presence and strong coalition are a signal that carbon removal is finally stepping into the major leagues. But after years of questions about the role of carbon removal in the formal COP agenda, where exactly do we stand? What can we expect and hope for? 


That’s why we’re delighted to welcome Chris Neidl, Carbon Removal Lead with the High-Level Climate Champions. Among many other things, Chris has been working tirelessly to build support for carbon removal in the programming at COP.


Join co-host Eve Tamme as she discusses with Chris what COP30 could mean for CDR and gains exclusive insights from the behind-the-scenes preparations.


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Big week in Brussels - EU 2040 target, NDC, CRCF11 Nov 202500:26:40

What a whirlwind it has been in Europe.


Over the last few days, we have seen the Council of the EU and the European Parliament's ENVI Committee agree on their positions on the EU 2040 Climate Target negotiations. From huge amounts of international credits, to a clear mandate for CDR, to a range of vague clauses: there is lots to unpack.


Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen travelled to COP30 with a 2035 NDC for the European Union. 


And, finally, the EU Commission held yet another Carbon Removals Expert Group meeting: we are so, so close to the first methodologies / delegated act for permanent removals being adopted.


Tune in for Eve’s and Sebastian's take on all these exciting developments.



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The Net Zero Standards: ISO vs SBTi - with Mai Bui14 Nov 202500:28:15

The SBTi has just published its second draft of the Net-Zero Standard v2 with important developments on carbon removals, and ISO is developing its own Net-Zero Standard. 


These parallel processes are already causing quite a stir across the climate and business communities. Do we really need another standard? Will ISO’s approach move the needle or add to the confusion? 


What will be the impact of both standards on carbon removals?


To help us get to the bottom of this, we’re delighted to welcome Dr Mai Bui, Director of Climate Science at Supercritical and an Expert Working Group Member on carbon removals for the Science Based Targets initiative. Mai will help us dig into what the new ISO standard could mean for the net-zero landscape.


Join co-hosts Eve Tamme and Sebastian Manhart in the discussion with Mai to cut through the headlines and get clarity on what’s changing for net-zero strategies, target setting and reporting.



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What did COP30 deliver for CDR? - with Chris Neidl25 Nov 202500:29:28

COP30 is behind us with two weeks of intense negotiations, pledges, and a full Action Agenda. But now comes the REAL question: Did any of it *actually* move the needle for CDR?


From political signals, to a mix of announcements, to the outcomes of different negotiation tracks, what does COP30 mean for the future of carbon removal deployment and governance?


To unpack it all, we’re thrilled to welcome back Christopher Neidl, Carbon Removal Lead with the Climate High-Level Champions. Chris was deeply embedded in the action at Belém and shares fresh insights from the ground.


Join Eve Tamme, our co-host, who keenly followed the negotiations, and Sebastian Manhart for this post‑COP debrief with Chris as we analyse the outcomes, surprises, and lessons for the global CDR community. 



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