Nature-positive carbon dioxide removal (NPCDR): A governance framework for integrating carbon integrity and ecosystem performance in EU climate policy

[Geoengineering News]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S3117325X2600009X

Authors: Behrouz Gholamahmadi

14 June 2026

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemecp.2026.100009

Abstract

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is increasingly recognised as a necessary complement to deep emissions reductions in pathways consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5–2 °C. Emerging governance frameworks for CDR, including the European Union's Carbon Removal Certification Framework, emphasise quantification, additionality, and durability of carbon storage. However, the ecological systems that influence long-term carbon stability and environmental legitimacy are often treated as safeguards rather than performance dimensions. This article introduces the concept of Nature-Positive Carbon Dioxide Removal (NPCDR) as a governance framework that aligns carbon integrity with ecosystem performance. NPCDR proposes evaluating removal systems along two complementary axes: carbon durability and ecosystem condition, including soil health, biodiversity, and hydrological regulation. Drawing on recent EU policy developments, including the Carbon Removal Certification Framework, the Soil Monitoring Law, the Nature Restoration Law, and the Nature Credits roadmap, the framework highlights the need for integrated carbon–nature governance. By positioning carbon removal within broader ecosystem management, NPCDR offers a conceptual approach for guiding the development of high-integrity removal portfolios consistent with climate and biodiversity objectives.

Source: ScienceDirect