The signatories of the Dutch Carbon Removal Pact commit to six core principles that together form the foundation of a reliable, transparent and responsible system for permanent CO₂ removal. These principles provide clarity for suppliers, purchasers, policymakers and the public. They ensure that CO₂ removal is genuinely permanent, additional, measurable and verifiable.
All CO₂ removal must be measurable, independently verified and publicly reported. Each Carbon Removal Credit represents a real, permanent and additional removal of CO₂. The Pact aligns with international monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) standards.
BECCS and similar technologies are not an end solution, but a necessary transitional instrument. CO₂ removal technologies serve as a bridging mechanism in the transition towards a fully sustainable energy system, until structural solutions are available at scale.
Only certified sustainable biomass is used: no primary forests, no competition with food production, and full compliance with EU and Dutch sustainability requirements. Exclusively residual streams and by-products.
Companies with unavoidable residual emissions take responsibility by purchasing certified CO₂ removal. This creates a domestic market for Carbon Removal Credits, complementary to the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS).
The Pact aligns with European developments, including the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) and the revision of the European Emissions Trading System.
Public support cannot be claimed; it must be earned. Trust is built through openness. The Pact promotes transparent communication, scientific review and citizen dialogue to strengthen societal trust in CO₂ removal.
Download the signed Dutch Pact for CO₂ Removal and read the full declaration.