EU explores purchasing programme for permanent CDR

DG CLIMA has published three reports (authored by Ramboll Management Consulting and Ecologic Institute) exploring design options for an EU-wide purchasing programme for permanent carbon dioxide removals (CDR), and reviews of current projects and funding models.

• Main announcement/action: The reports assess an EU-wide purchasing programme focused on short-term demand creation (2025-2030) and recommend that the programme should not only buy removal credits but strategically purchase various types of removal credits to stimulate technology development and market efficiency; they propose a mix of funding sources including EU budget, contributions from Member States, and private funding, and recommend linking purchases to existing instruments such as the Innovation Fund to streamline processes.
• Background and details: The package includes a landscape and financing review mapping projects up to 2035, and a review of existing EU programmes (notably Innovation Fund and Horizon Europe) with proposals for new funding models to support early-stage CDR; it draws on stakeholder input from a workshop:
  • Workshop: “Perspectives on a Purchasing Programme for CRCF Permanent Carbon Removal Credits”
    • Date: 21 May 2025
    • Subject: stakeholder discussion of investment motivations and prerequisites for an EU purchasing initiative
  • Publication date of the DG CLIMA announcement: 27 August 2025
  • Authors: Directorate-General for Climate Action, reports by Ramboll Management Consulting and Ecologic Institute