For the original interview in Dutch please click this link.

Full interview 

Kees van Santen founded Cawa a few years ago, a company aimed at strengthening trust in CO₂ compensation and effectively financing essential climate projects. During ESG Days (October 7 and 8 at Jaarbeurs), Kees will further explain the ins and outs of the Voluntary Carbon Markets.

How has the market for carbon credits developed?

“We’re seeing a clear shift: from projects that prevent or reduce CO₂ emissions—such as building wind turbines or preventing deforestation—to nature-based and technological solutions that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. This shift has partly arisen after several carbon credit projects focused on emission avoidance or reduction came under scrutiny, which has increased the emphasis on the quality of carbon credits. Various organizations, such as SBTi and the IPCC, have also stated that only carbon removals can be used for net-zero claims.”

Why is carbon removal so important in net-zero plans?‍

“The ‘net’ in net-zero means that companies must remove the remaining CO₂ they cannot reduce. For virtually every organization, carbon removal is therefore a necessary step. In most cases, carbon removals will take place outside the company and can then be purchased through carbon removal credits. But this market is still in its infancy, which makes it challenging for companies to get started.”

Why should carbon removal be on the agenda at ESG Days?‍

“In all of the IPCC’s scenarios, carbon removal plays an important role. Yet many companies are only at the beginning of exploring carbon removals and how they fit into their strategy. ESG Days are an ideal opportunity to bring the topic to attention and offer concrete tools.”

Why do companies often find it difficult to orient themselves in this market?‍

“The market is complex: there are many different projects, quality standards and project technologies, and it’s hard to properly assess quality. Companies also often wonder where their money actually goes, because many players in the market charge high margins and themselves buy from other traders instead of directly from climate projects. The complexity and lack of transparency create a high barrier to entry.”

Kees, finally – you’re participating in ESG Days with Cawa. What is Cawa’s added value in the market?‍

“We offer companies a carefully curated portfolio consisting solely of carbon removal projects that align with their sustainability strategy. To do this, we’ve analyzed more than 250 projects based on our methodology. We also make the entire financial flow transparent: through our platform, a client can see exactly which amount goes to which project. That distinguishes us from many traders who charge hidden margins. In this way, we make it possible to enter a young and complex market with confidence. Only with this transparency and quality can carbon removal grow from niche to mainstream – a prerequisite for achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.”