On 15.12.2021, the European Commission announces to create a legal framework in a communication on "Sustainable carbon cycles" according to which procedures for natural carbon sequestration and technical CO2 extraction and storage can be certified. By the end of 2022, the European Commission wants to make a legislative proposal.

In this short position, the German Environment Agency points to gaps in the European Commission's proposal, refers to essential minimum requirements for the certification of carbon sequestrations and calls for a clearer integration of the certification framework with regard to its steering effect and its steering objective in the climate protection target architecture of the European Union.