Legal and Economic Framework for Carbon Farming and Carbon Certificates in the EU Using the Example of Poland

Piotr Gołasa (), Wioletta Bieńkowska-Gołasa, Piotr Cyrek and Magdalena Cyrek
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Piotr Gołasa: Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Wioletta Bieńkowska-Gołasa: Institute of Economics and Finance, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
Piotr Cyrek: Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Rzeszow, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland
Magdalena Cyrek: Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Rzeszow, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: The main objective of this article is to define the current legal and economic framework for conducting activities in the field of carbon farming and the carbon certificate system in Poland. The research was conducted using desk research, and the legal acts in force in the EU and in Poland, as well as planned ones, were analyzed. The statistical data from Eurostat, the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), Statistics Poland, and The Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture (ARMA) were analyzed. In the European Union, agriculture is responsible for 11% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, while in Poland, where the vast majority of these emissions are related to animal production, it is responsible for 8.5%. To ensure sustainable growth, it is necessary to reduce GHG emissions from agriculture. Work is underway in the EU to prepare legal regulations specifying the principles of carbon farming and introducing carbon certificates. The shape of this system is not yet precise, disputes within the EU bodies are related to the system of financing carbon farming, and certification principles. The presented assumptions raise great doubts among scientists. However, a voluntary certification system is in operation and starting to be used by Polish farmers. In Poland, from 2023, carbon farming is directly linked to the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy, where PLN 2.78 billion has been allocated for the “Carbon farming and nutrient management” eco-scheme, which constitutes 64% of the funds for financing eco-schemes. The carbon farming system requires further strengthening and development. The most important factor was considered to be increasing the involvement of farmers, through appropriate financial incentives and increasing their knowledge. Further research directions should focus on long-term economic aspects in addition to environmental and technical aspects.

Keywords: carbon farming; regenerative agriculture; Common Agricultural Policy; carbon sequestration; sustainable farming (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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