Italia-Croatia

01/04/2025

On 27 March 2025, Dubrovnik-neretva Region, hosted in Dubrovnik the International Conference “Sustainable agriculture and climate action: The GECO2.2 carbon market opportunities”, organised within the framework of the Green economy and CO2.2 project, funded by the Interreg Italy–Croatia Programme.

The event brought together partners from Italy and Croatia, institutional representatives, farmers, and buyers to discuss the role of agriculture in the green transition and the development of a voluntary carbon market. Participants shared progress on refining the GECO2 methodology for certifying carbon credits and aligning it with EU regulation.

Special focus was given to the achievements of the Dubrovnik-Neretva Region, which is leading efforts to enhance the model through policy alignment and mapping of best practices in Europe.

“This is one of the most important projects in agriculture and in the fight against climate change in Europe. It connects agricultural work with the removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere,” stated Leonardo Marotta from Legacoop Romagna.

“We’re building a voluntary carbon market that everyone can join and benefit from. This is key to creating real impact in the agricultural economy,” added Antonio Cinti, also from Legacoop Romagna.

From a buyer’s perspective, the project’s local relevance was highlighted: “After calculating our carbon footprint, we chose to invest in GECO2 credits instead of external schemes. Supporting local, credible initiatives makes a difference,” said a Romanian buyer representative.

“We are currently working on refining the methodology and aligning it with the latest EU regulation on carbon removal certification. This will enhance the credibility and scalability of the model,” confirmed Cedo Vuckovic from the Dubrovnik-Neretva Region.

By connecting sustainable agriculture with carbon sequestration, GECO2.2 promotes innovation and cross-border cooperation for a greener and more resilient economy.