Regulatory and standard insights on transboundary CO2 in the context of MRV

As transboundary carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) projects gain momentum globally, the need for a coherent, robust, and verifiable system for measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of cross-border carbon dioxide (CO₂) flows becomes increasingly critical. This paper reviews and synthesises key regulatory frameworks and technical standards, namely, the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), ISO 27914 and ISO 27915, and the Verra VM0049 methodology, to assess their applicability to MRV across the CO₂ capture, transport, and storage chain. The EU ETS, under its 2024 consolidated Implementing Regulation, sets a high benchmark for uncertainty management and data integrity in CO₂ accounting; however, it lacks specific prescriptions for advanced or smart metering technologies. ISO 27914, while focused on geological storage, provides essential guidance for long-term containment and injection site monitoring, relevant to the final stages of the CCS chain. ISO 27915 provides a comprehensive framework for quantifying and verifying GHG emissions and reductions, establishing a direct link between CO₂ flow measurement and emissions reporting. The Verra VM0049 methodology, although designed for voluntary carbon markets, provides comprehensive procedures for quantifying and monitoring emissions across transport and storage stages, with practical relevance to transboundary CO₂ transfers. While none of these instruments independently address all aspects of cross-border CO₂ movement, their combined insights highlight both foundational strengths and critical gaps, such as the absence of unified custody transfer protocols and limited treatment of fugitive emissions in transitional zones. This paper aims to consolidate these insights to inform future MRV frameworks tailored to the unique technical, regulatory, and jurisdictional challenges of transboundary CO₂ flows.