Importing international carbon credits to the EU: How to make it work?

As the European Union considers how international carbon credits could contribute to its 2040 climate target, the details of design will matter. Any future use of credits would need clear rules on quality, governance, funding and market development to protect climate ambition and support international cooperation.

EDF’s series on international credits in the EU examines the practical choices policymakers will need to consider if credits are used toward the EU’s 2040 climate framework. The papers explore strategic implementation, funding and governance, and credit quality criteria, with a focus on how the EU can design a system that is credible, workable and aligned with high-integrity climate action.

A line of flags outside of the Berlaymont building

Reports

International Credits in the EU: Strategic Choices & Practical Implementation

Date published: October 2025
This paper examines how, if done right, importing credits could be a practical way for Europe to keep target compliance costs manageable, protect its climate ambition, and increase its clout in international climate policy.
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Buying the 5%: Funding, Governance and Market Design for the EU’s International Credit Purchases

Date published: May 2026
This paper examines how potential international credit purchases could be funded and governed, who might pay for credits, and what market design choices would be needed to send credible signals to future credit suppliers.
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International credits in the EU: credit quality criteria and implications for the EU’s purchasing strategy

Date published: May 2026
Co-authored by Environmental Defense Fund and The Nature Conservancy, this paper examines how the EU could define, assess, and safeguard credit quality while building on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and existing integrity frameworks.
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