Roots revival: Why nature-based carbon removals are a key opportunity for Europe
10 February 2026 – CLG Europe, convened by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, releases a Business Briefing examining how high-integrity nature-based carbon removals can help close Europe’s climate gap while strengthening nature recovery, competitiveness and resilience.
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Europe’s climate ambitions and nature recovery goals are deeply interconnected. With ecosystems under severe pressure and the EU working towards climate neutrality by 2050, businesses and policymakers face growing risks - but also major opportunities - in how carbon removals and nature restoration are designed and scaled.
This Business Briefing sets out why high-integrity nature-based carbon removals (NbCR) can play a strategic role in strengthening Europe’s climate delivery while accelerating nature recovery - when used alongside rapid emissions reductions.
Why this matters
Europe’s economy is highly dependent on healthy ecosystems - yet nature is already in crisis:
- Over 80% of Europe’s protected habitats are in poor condition
- Soil degradation and water stress are increasing across many regions
- Nature-related risks are already material for business and finance, with growing exposure of corporate value and debt to ecosystem decline
At the same time, the EU is pursuing ambitious climate targets, including climate neutrality by 2050, alongside major policy frameworks such as the Nature Restoration Law and the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming Regulation (CRCF). Together, these trends make credible, high-integrity carbon removals and nature-based solutions strategically important for Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and long-term prosperity.
Key takeaways from the briefing
- NbCR can help close Europe’s climate gap
Used alongside rapid emissions reductions, NbCR can address residual emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, supporting delivery of Europe’s climate goals. - Nature-based removals deliver multiple co-benefits
Well-designed NbCR projects can strengthen biodiversity, climate resilience, soil health, water security and rural livelihoods. - NbCR are already proven and scalable
Drawing on real-world examples from leading European companies, the briefing shows NbCR as a proven, scalable and relatively low-cost complement to engineered removals and other climate solutions. - High integrity is essential to avoid greenwashing
Without strong standards and governance, NbCR risk undermining trust. The briefing highlights how the EU’s CRCF can help improve quality, transparency and investment confidence. - Business leadership is already shaping what works
CLG Europe members demonstrate how NbCR can be integrated into corporate climate strategies in ways that create value for companies while supporting public climate and nature goals.
10 Business Principles for High-Integrity Nature-Based GHG Removals
To support credible scaling, CLG Europe members have developed 10 Business Principles for High-Integrity Nature-Based GHG Removals to guide credible, responsible and science-aligned deployment of nature-based carbon removals. The principles provide a clear framework to build trust, safeguard environmental and social outcomes, and inform future EU policy, market design and corporate practice.
Who this briefing is for
- Policymakers shaping climate, nature and land-use policy
- Businesses developing carbon removal and nature strategies
- Financial institutions and investors assessing NbCR opportunities and risks
- NGOs and practitioners working on climate, biodiversity and nature-based solutions
Citing this report
University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). (2026). Roots revival: Why nature-based carbon removals are a key opportunity for Europe. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.