[COP30 Blue Zone Event] Global South Leadership in Carbon Dioxide Removal

​Integrity, Scale, and International Credits

​Date: Friday, 14 November 2025
Time: 09:00 – 10:30 (90 min session incl. audience Q&A)
Venue: CDR30 Pavilion, Blue Zone – COP30, Belém, Brazil
Organizer: Global South CDR Coalition (GS-CDR)
Supported by: InPlanet, Sirona Technologies, NetZero

​Event Overview

​As the EU finalizes its 2040 Climate Target Framework and the world prepares for the first global compliance carbon market under Article 6, the rules of engagement for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) are being rewritten.

​For the first time, international carbon credits are expected to count toward EU climate targets, a pivotal step that could unlock billions in cross-border investment for high-integrity removals in the Global South.

​But this shift raises essential questions:

• ​How can Europe maintain environmental integrity while recognizing credible Global South projects?

• ​What frameworks will ensure that carbon finance drives development, not dependency?

• ​How can we ensure technology neutrality so all durable CDR pathways, from Direct Air Capture to Enhanced Rock Weathering and Biochar, can thrive?

​This COP30 session brings together leaders from across science, industry, and policy to discuss how climate diplomacy and market design can converge to deliver equitable, scalable, and credible carbon removal.

​Maria de Freitas

​Head of Marketing & Public Affairs, InPlanet | Steering Committee, GS-CDR Coalition

Maria drives science-based climate storytelling and international policy for Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) in tropical agriculture. She advocates for durable CDR inclusion and farmer-led adoption across the Global South.
🔗 LinkedIn

​Wietse Vroom

​Chair, Global South CDR Coalition | Policy Lead, Carbon Business Council
Netherlands
Wietse leads GS-CDR’s policy work, bridging international cooperation and integrity standards across continents. He is a key voice in EU 2040 policy and Article 6 integration.
🔗 LinkedIn

​Thor Gutierrez

​Co-Founder & CEO, Sirona Technologies
Kenya / Germany
Thor heads Sirona Technologies, developing modular Direct Air Capture (DAC). He advocates for industrial-scale CDR in the Global South as a path to clean growth and resilience.
🔗 LinkedIn

​Olivier Reinaud

​Co-Founder & CEO, NetZero
France / West Africa
Olivier leads NetZero’s biochar-based carbon removal projects, shaping the financing architecture for bankable, verifiable CDR across Africa and Latin America.
🔗 LinkedIn