The present invention relates to a method for the catalytic removal of sulfur dioxide from waste gases in two reactors, wherein the first reactor is charged with an activated carbon catalyst. The method comprises: a. provision of a waste gas with a water content of less than 1 g H2O/Nm3 and an SO2 content of at least 5 ppm, b. introduction of the waste gases into a first reactor, c. catalytic conversion of the SO2 into gaseous SO3 in the first reactor by the activated carbon catalyst, wherein catalytic conversion on the activated carbon catalyst proceeds at a temperature of below 100° C., d. introduction of the prepurified waste gases from the first reactor into a second reactor, e. conversion of the SO3 with water into H2SO4 in the second reactor.