Contribution to Berlin Conference on Waste Management and Energy

Our Head of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), Matthias Poralla, recently represented Perspecrives at the Berlin Conference on Waste Management and Energy, hosted by Vivis – Thomé-Kozmiensky Verlag GmbH.

Bridging Policy and Implementation

As a premier forum for industry leaders, policymakers, and environmental scientists, the conference focuses on the intersection of circular economy, energy recovery, and climate targets. Matthias’ presentation addressed a critical bottleneck in the net-zero transition: the design of market-based approaches and policy instruments to effectively scale CDR.

He provided a comprehensive “state of play” for the industry, emphasizing that scaling CDR requires a robust policy mix. Matthias argued that a strategic blend of market-based approaches and complementary instruments is essential to create the long-term certainty needed for large-scale deployment.

Panel Highlights: Navigating the ETS and BEHG

Following the presentation, Matthias joined a high-level panel discussion to dive deeper into the regulatory landscape. The panel featured prominent voices across the European policy and waste-to-energy sectors:

• Peter Liese, European Parliament

• Martin Treder, ITAD

• Georg Kobiela, Bellona

• Robin Quartier, VBSA

• Moderator: Ella Stengler, CEWEP

The discussion focused on the practical hurdles posed by the current European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and Germany’s domestic Fuel Emissions Trading System (BEHG). Panelists explored pathways to modernize these systems, ensuring they not only support decarbonization in the waste sector but also maintain the highest levels of environmental integrity.