National Summit on Natural Carbon Sequestration
On Tuesday 16 June 2026, the Climate Cleanup Foundation hosts the National Summit on Natural Carbon Sequestration — the national follow-up to a successful earlier carbon-sequestration roundtable.
Policymakers, entrepreneurs, scientists, investors and practitioners come together to answer one central question:
How do we scale natural carbon sequestration in the Netherlands in a way that works for climate, nature and society?
Through keynotes, interactive break-out sessions and a carbon-market with stands, we explore how nature-based CDR can be accelerated in the Netherlands. The conference takes place at Jardin d'Hiverre (the Rijkskwekerij) in Baarn.
Natural Carbon Sequestration in a regenerative economy
Despite shifting political winds, the world continues to move away from the fossil economy: toward an economy that does not extract but restores. A regenerative economy.
Natural carbon sequestration plays a key role: we pull CO₂ out of the atmosphere and simultaneously strengthen ecosystems, soils, water management and regional economies — through regenerative agriculture, fibre crops and biobased construction materials.
To accelerate this, the conference brings policymakers, entrepreneurs, scientists and market leaders together with ministries, provinces and municipalities. To share knowledge, explore opportunities and strengthen the connection between practice, policy and market.
With inspiring examples, in-depth content and room to meet, we keep building solutions that restore ecosystems and create economic value at the same time.
The programme
What to expect
The programme consists of an inspiring plenary session with leading speakers from the field, who share their vision on the future of carbon removal and offer concrete insights on how to scale impact. Participants can also join in-depth break-out sessions around three key themes:
- Policy — The role of policy and regulation in scaling carbon removal
- Market & financing — New business models and investment opportunities
- Biobased construction — The role of biobased materials in long-duration carbon storage
Come to connect, learn and contribute to a growing carbon-removal movement: a movement that works with nature, strengthens communities and delivers lasting climate impact.
Programme — National Summit on Natural Carbon Sequestration
- Musical opening of the National Summit on Natural Carbon Sequestration
- Welcome by Sven Jense, Director of the Climate Cleanup Foundation
An inspiring keynote on the systemic value of nature-based solutions (NbS) and their role in restoring ecosystems, storing carbon and building a future-proof economy. Tim van Hattum is head of the Climate Programme at WUR and author of 'Only Planet — Climate Guide for the 21st Century'.
11:00 — Break-out sessions — Round 1
Round 1: Kick-off — Inter-governmental cooperation on carbon sequestration
The first session opens with a short presentation by the IPKC: why the coalition was founded, the role it wants to take, and how it intends to support local governments. A plenary kick-off follows on the importance of municipalities, water authorities and environmental agencies in natural carbon sequestration.
We then explore the key barriers (world-café or plenary format) along four themes:
Financial: how do projects get funded, and what role can certificates, public funds or procurement play?
Technical: what knowledge is needed on monitoring, project quality, soil, water and long-duration storage?
Legal: what questions arise around state aid, procurement, ownership, claims and responsibilities?
Cooperation: how do layers of government divide their roles, and how do we avoid fragmentation?
Outcome: a shared picture of the key bottlenecks and the role different governments can play in addressing them.
Hosted by the Interprovincial Carbon Removal Coalition (IPKC):
Reindert Augustijn
Manager Intensifying Climate Action
Province of Gelderland
Megan Maartens
Climate Policy Adviser
Province of Gelderland
Ernst Koppen
Climate Policy Adviser
Province of Noord-Holland
Alexander Heusschen
Strategic Policy Adviser, Climate (Mitigation)
Province of Utrecht
Erwin Hebels
Conductor/Connector Soil & Subsurface
Province of Drenthe
Lody Kuling
Province of Noord-Brabant
Meet peers across the sector and discover new collaboration opportunities.
Irene van Staveren is a leading voice on rethinking the economic system. Her work focuses on how economics can be made more inclusive, sustainable and future-proof. In her keynote, Irene offers an essential perspective on the systemic change needed to connect nature restoration with climate goals.
Irene van Staveren is Professor of Pluralist Development Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam and a columnist at Trouw.
A dynamic plenary session where participants actively think along on solutions, barriers and opportunities for accelerating natural carbon sequestration.
Continuing the carbon-sequestration tables, split across the same three themes:
Break-out sessions — Round 2
Round 2: From barriers to regional next steps
In the second session, participants work in a World-Café format. For each region, the barriers identified earlier are discussed and translated into possible first steps.
Each table works toward three concrete outcomes:
the most important regional opportunity for carbon sequestration;
the biggest obstacle to capturing that opportunity;
a first follow-up step, including the parties involved and a possible lead.
The session closes with a brief plenary feedback round. The IPKC collects the outputs as the basis for a follow-up agenda.
Hosted by the Interprovincial Carbon Removal Coalition (IPKC):
Reindert Augustijn
Manager Intensifying Climate Action
Province of Gelderland
Megan Maartens
Climate Policy Adviser
Province of Gelderland
Ernst Koppen
Climate Policy Adviser
Province of Noord-Holland
Alexander Heusschen
Strategic Policy Adviser, Climate (Mitigation)
Province of Utrecht
Erwin Hebels
Conductor/Connector Soil & Subsurface
Province of Drenthe
Lody Kuling
Province of Noord-Brabant
Derk Loorbach is a leading voice on societal transitions and systemic change. In his keynote he shows that the shift is already under way, carried by pioneers and frontrunners setting new practices in motion. He also offers a sharp perspective on the joint steps needed to strengthen, connect and scale this movement.
Derk Loorbach is director of DRIFT and Professor of Socio-economic Transitions at Erasmus University Rotterdam. He is also a figurehead of the Dutch Climate Research Initiative (KIN).
Close the day with drinks and meet organisations working on innovative carbon-removal projects. Dozens of organisations will showcase their regenerative initiatives on the grounds. Want your organisation at the summit too? Email top@climatecleanup.org.
A delicious walking dinner with sustainable dishes. The dinner is included with your ticket.
Partners
The National Summit on Natural Carbon Sequestration is made possible by forward-looking partners committed to accelerating climate solutions. Interested in becoming a partner or sponsor? Email top@climatecleanup.org.
Showcase your organisation at the 'Carbon Market'
During lunch and the closing drinks the 'carbon market' is open. We warmly invite all regenerative organisations and initiatives to introduce themselves to the audience. In the lunch space and on the beautiful Rijkskwekerij grounds we'll make room for market stalls. So if you have an innovative project, are looking for new partners, or want every attendee to know about your organisation — email top@climatecleanup.org and we'll share the options. We're open to all ideas. The more inspiring, the better!
Previous edition: Climate Cleanup CDR Conference 2025
The 2025 edition brought 180 participants together for a day of insights, discussion and collaboration around the future of carbon removal in the built environment. Experts, policymakers and practitioners explored how carbon removal can be integrated into nature, infrastructure and policy.
“It was great! A lot of insights gained. I found it refreshing that this wasn't only about ambitions but about what's already possible in practice.”
“Strong programme on substance, but above all well-organised with a lot of enthusiastic people in one room. In this young movement, networking and sharing experiences is crucial to scale fast.”
“The conference brought urgency and optimism together in a good way. That made it both realistic and motivating.”
In photos — 2025 edition
Quick summary
- Date
- Tuesday 16 June 2026
- Time
- 09:00 – 17:30
- Venue
- Jardin d'Hiverre, Rijkskwekerij, Baarn
- Language
- Dutch
- Who it's for
- Entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, market leaders and practitioners in carbon removal and nature-based solutions.