On 6 November, the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) published a new draft for its forthcoming Corporate Net-zero Standard version 2.0 for consultation. The Standard sets the rules for how SBTi companies can and cannot reach their net-zero targets, including through carbon removal.
The Nordic Carbon Removal Association has taken the lead in uniting the carbon removal ecosystem in a joint response shared with the SBTi leadership. The open letter is available here: SBTi Corporate Net-Zero Standard Version 2.0 (Second Public Consultation Draft) – Joint Letter from Stakeholders Across the Permanent Removals Value Chain 15 December 2025.
The open letter gathers 59 buyers and stakeholders in the CDR ecosystem including suppliers, market-makers and trade associations behind a call to amend the new draft standard to ensure that the forthcoming net-zero standard promotes – rather than restricts – companies’ and nations’ ability to make carbon removals part of reaching their net zero targets.
With the current draft wording, the SBTi standard would create uncertainty around the eligibility of carbon removals for neutralization claims, making it very costly or even impossible for companies to reach net-zero. Ultimately, the current wording will not support much-needed climate action – unfortunately, it will hinder progress and prove damaging to the climate.
To do something about this, we call for targeted amendments of the draft standard to enable or at the very least avoid restricting efforts by companies and nations to co-fund removal projects.
We are asking for:
- A revision of paragraph C29.6 to reflect that a corporate can make a neutralization claim based on a permanent carbon removal certificate if it is not simultaneously claimed by another company for compliance or voluntary purposes, while ensuring that the removal is included in no more than one Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
- An amendment of the definition of Additionality in point 1.3 to make it possible for neutralization activities to contribute toward a host country’s NDC provided there is proof of additionality for voluntary applications and corresponding adjustments have been applied when ITMO transactions are involved.
The Nordic Carbon Removal Association and the other signatories are committed to help the SBTi secretariat in enabling companies to reach their climate ambitions using permanent carbon removals. All corporate actors and CDR value chain actors are encouraged to include this letter and its content in their submissions to the SBTi consultation. All signatories are listed below.
Initiated by: Nordic Carbon Removal Association
Supported by:
- Stockholm Exergi
- Puro.earth
- South Pole
- Stripe
- ClimeFi
- Klimate
- Nasdaq
- 1PointFive
- Climeworks
- Ørsted
- Hafslund
- Öresundskraft
- Danish District Heating Association
- Carbon Business Council
- DVNE
- AFEN
- Negative Emissions Platform
- Carbfix
- Heirloom
- ReCarber
- REMOVR
- Limenet
- Biocarb Solution
- Njord Carbon
- Rock Flour Company
- Carboculture
- Isometric
- Pyrolyse Danmark
- CO280
- Rethinking Removals
- CUR8
- HOFOR
- Elimini
- Drax
- Stiesdal SkyClean
- Carbonfuture
- Sirona Technologies
- Neustark
- Alt Carbon
- ReCoal
- Rewind
- SeaO₂
- 17 Tons
- Planeteers
- Alcom
- Vestforbrænding
- Wild Assets
- ZERO
- CRIA – Carbon Removal India Alliance
- Avfall Sverige
- CEWEP
- Enfinium
- Bioenergy Europe
- Carbon Centric
- Accend