The cabinet has mapped out how the Netherlands can utilize carbon removal in the future. Carbon removal is a method to safely extract emissions that cause climate warming from the air and store them long-term. This is necessary to become climate neutral and offers opportunities for green growth of our economy and society.

The Netherlands and Europe have made significant efforts in recent years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but that alone is not enough to combat climate change. Therefore, CO2 must also be removed from the atmosphere. The captured carbon is, for example, stored underground, in empty gas fields, or with crops and trees. It can also be used as a raw material for industry or construction.

To integrate carbon removal into climate policy and provide investment certainty, the cabinet is considering an annual contribution of 20 to 25 megatons of carbon removal per year in the Netherlands between 2040 and 2050. This is approximately 10% of the emissions of the Netherlands in 1990, and is also comparable to the current emissions of the entire mobility sector.

Carbon removal will become an indispensable track in national and international climate policy. It helps reduce emissions, achieve climate neutrality, and after 2050 remove more CO2 than is emitted (net negative emissions). Reducing emissions remains critically important.

The technology of carbon removal is relatively young, which calls for new and creative techniques. This offers opportunities for entrepreneurs. Innovative Dutch companies are already working on developing, testing, and selling these technologies. Think of large filters that capture CO2 from the air or carbon storage in building materials, such as concrete.

The Carbon Removal Roadmap distinguishes three phases:

1. Until around 2030: the startup phase focusing on innovation and developing regulations.
2. From around 2030: the scaling phase focusing on scaling through a carbon market.
3. From around 2040: the internationalization phase focusing on a mature carbon market that is becoming increasingly global and preparing for net negative emissions.

The Dutch carbon removal policy is developed in line with the three phases in three simultaneous tracks: i) strengthening international accounting rules, ii) creating a European carbon market, and iii) preparing Dutch companies for this carbon market through national innovation and knowledge development.

The carbon removal roadmap stems from the Climate Plan 2025 - 2035, which is being presented to the House of Representatives and the Senate simultaneously with the roadmap. The Climate Plan outlines the path to climate neutrality by 2050 and contains a policy agenda for the period 2025-2035. Besides greenhouse gas reduction, the plan also addresses how this transition can be carried out fairly. An internet consultation took place at the end of 2024 regarding an earlier version of the Climate Plan. The Council of State has also issued an advisory opinion. The cabinets response to both the consultation and the Council of States advice has been attached as appendices to the Climate Plan.