How 'Clean-up Certificates' Could Lead to Better Climate Protection

How 'clean-up certificates' could lead to better climate protection

An economic study calculates the effectiveness of a novel policy instrument: The underlying idea is that you are allowed to release the climate gas CO₂ into the atmosphere—but only if you promise to "clean up" later through carbon removal. The market forces activated by clean-up certificates can greatly strengthen the fight against global heating without placing an extra burden on the economy. The study was conducted by the Potsdam Institute for…

How “Clean-Up Certificates” Drive Enhanced Climate Protection

In a groundbreaking development poised to reshape the landscape of climate policy, researchers at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) have unveiled a novel economic mechanism that links carbon dioxide emissions directly with future removal obligations. This cutting-edge approach, detailed in the upcoming issue of the Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, introduces “clean-up certificates” as a compelling compleme…

How “clean-up certificates” lead to better climate protection

23.02.2026 – A groundbreaking economic study calculates the effectiveness of this novel policy instrument. The underlying idea is that you are allowed to release the climate gas CO₂ into the atmosphere – but only if you promise to “clean up” later through carbon removal. The market forces activated by clean-up certificates can greatly strengthen the fight against global heating without placing an extra burden on the economy. The study was conduc…