Gold Standard’s Post

2023 was a pivotal year for Gold Standard.   We added 376 new projects to our pipeline and reached the milestone of 1,500 fully certified projects since our inception. Gold Standard annual carbon credit issuances grew by 41%, and organisations retired 29 million Gold Standard carbon credits, an increase from 2022, demonstrating continued demand for high-quality carbon credits.     But carbon credits represent more than emission reductions. We also calculate the “shared value” our certified projects deliver through co-benefits for local communities, such as decent work and good health. Along with our partners, Gold Standard projects created a record US$10.3 billion of shared value, bringing our all-time total to US$46 billion. This economic value is calculated as per data from independent research studies.       Other key highlights include:      ❇ Carbon Market   - A record 23 public consultations were published - including innovative methodology concepts for Aircraft Contrails and Coal Decommissioning - and we released six new methodologies. - In a first for the voluntary carbon market, Gold Standard attached Paris Agreement Article 6 authorisation labels to carbon credits on the Gold Standard Impact Registry.      ❇ Sustainable Finance   - The very first funds under our Pilot Impact Portfolio Requirements received design certification.  - Our Pilot Adaptation Requirements and guidance documents received key updates, and we ran adaptation workshops in Ecuador, South Africa and Portugal.      ❇ Corporate Climate Action   - The first iteration of our Fairly Contributing to Global Net Zero Framework and Claims Guidelines were released.   - The Advanced and Indirect Mitigation (AIM) Platform was established by Gold Standard and partners, serving as a hub for removing barriers to ‘value chain’ mitigation.      We thank all our partners, supporters and collaborators for their dedication, ambition, and support throughout 2023.      But is still plenty more to be achieved!      Our work for 2024 is well underway, and we look forward to working with our partners to achieve great things again this year. Together, we can make real progress towards Climate Security and Sustainable Development for all. Download our Annual Report for 2023 here: https://lnkd.in/er8mfUdd

Gold Standard-issued Verified Emission Reduction (VERs) are eligible for use under four national carbon taxes globally, allowing companies to use VERs to meet some or all of their tax compliance obligations. By taking this route, companies can provide finance for activities delivering certified impact towards climate security and sustainable development, under our internationally-recognised standard. 🌍 A growing number of countries have introduced carbon pricing policies, putting a price on GHG emissions through carbon taxes, emissions trading systems, or other mechanisms. We recently published country-specific guidance documentation for using our credits towards compliance obligations, for Chile, Colombia, Singapore and South Africa. The documents can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eEMSNreJ Gold Standard is open to supporting more governments in this area. For more information, please contact our Government Relations Manager, Kavya Bajaj.

If we are to reach global net-zero, then it is vital that companies measure, abate and take responsibility for 100% of their emissions – scopes 1, 2 and 3. Over the last month, we have published a series of blogs on corporate climate responsibility. These cover: The urgent need for corporate action, why we don’t think carbon credits are the answer for scope 3 targets, what action companies should take on their scope 3 emissions, and finally what companies should do if they miss their targets. 🖥️ Join our webinar on 25th July 2024 ⏰14:30 - 15:30 (CEST): 🔗https://lnkd.in/ehYDH2hB If you would like to understand how companies can take responsibility for their ongoing emissions and contribute to our collective journey towards global net-zero then sign up for our webinar, where Gold Standard experts Owen Hewlett and Dan Magrath will demystify the actions required: You can also read the latest iteration of our climate framework at the following link: 🔗https://lnkd.in/eCBk3nsM

In recent years, we have seen increasing convergence between voluntary and compliance markets globally and a more active role for national governments in regulating carbon market mechanisms. Understanding and navigating this evolving context is essential for all market actors.    Gold Standard has launched a new Carbon Markets Regulations Tracker to support this, which includes information and links to regulations in over 30 jurisdictions globally. The tracker, developed by South Pole, aims to increase visibility on regulations for project developers, governments, and other market actors, enabling compliance, informing decision-making, and identifying trends and best practices.     In this webinar, we will present the Regulations Tracker and hear reflections and experiences from our partners on key trends in national regulations, their implications for different market actors, and new developments to look out for.    Moderator:  • Hugh Salway, Senior Director, Market Development and Partnerships, Gold Standard    Presenter:  • Daniel Sachadonig, Consultant, Climate Policy, Finance and Markets, South Pole    Panellists:  • Kavya Bajaj, Government Relations Manager, Gold Standard  • Karolien Casaer-Diez, Global Senior Director, Article 6, South Pole  • Greg Lydka Morris, Policy and Portfolio Manager, Abatable    ️📆 Date: Wednesday, 17 July  🕘 Time: 10:00 - 11:00 CEST  🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/ghy42vmX

A big thank you to everyone who joined us at London Climate Action Week last week. We hosted three events last Tuesday, and it was great to engage with so many passionate climate leaders and practitioners.   1. Roundtable: Developments in Carbon Markets • Hosted by Hugh Salway, Senior Director, Market Development and Partnerships at Gold Standard. We shared updates on our work in carbon markets and exchanged insights on the latest global trends. 2. High Integrity Climate Action • Led by Owen Hewlett, Chief Technical Officer, and Dan Magrath, Corporate Responsibility Manager here at Gold Standard. We discussed the challenges and solutions for corporate decarbonisation, building on our latest framework for organisational climate mitigation strategies. 3. Integrity for Impact: Gold Standard LCAW Stakeholder Reception • An evening reception where we connected with climate leaders across the value chain to discuss scaling up climate action with integrity and previewed our new organisational strategy.   Special thanks to delegates who attended from:   • AECOM • AlliedOffsets • ALLCOT IO • Carbonplace • Climate Impact Partners • Climate Impact X • CO2balance • Clean Cooking Alliance (CCA) • Carbon Trade eXchange (CTX) • ecosecurities • International Chamber of Commerce • ISEAL • Macquarie Bank • Milkywire • Ørsted • Palladium: Make It Possible • Patch • S&P Global • ShareAction • Standard Chartered • The Future Forests Fund   We look forward to continuing our work together to advance climate action.   🔗 To stay updated on future Gold Standard Events - sign up to our newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/eEHtvp8q   #ClimateAction #Sustainability #NetZero #GoldStandard #LCAW2024 #LCAW

🌍 Gold Standard Releases Second Iteration of Climate Framework 🌍 Gold Standard has released the second iteration of its pioneering climate framework, designed to guide organisations in making substantial contributions to global climate efforts. This revised version addresses new challenges and incorporates feedback to support businesses navigating the complexities of climate strategy. Key Highlights: • Organisational Climate Strategies: A comprehensive guide consolidating principles and criteria for credible climate action. • Guidelines for Credible Claims: Detailed discussions and practical steps for implementing the framework. Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard, stated: “Our updated framework aims to provide a clear and comprehensive guide for becoming a positive and fair contributor on our journey to global net zero.” 🔗 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eDbyYzB5 Webinar Invite 🖥️: On 25 July, join Gold Standard experts for a webinar to discuss how companies can do the right thing for our planet: https://lnkd.in/eWR42yjK #ClimateAction #NetZero #Sustainability #GoldStandard

Any climate action ambitious enough to make a difference will have the potential to fall short. So, what should companies do when they realise they won’t meet their targets? In the final blog in our series on corporate climate responsibility, we discuss the importance of taking responsibility for unabated emissions and embracing radical honesty about environmental impact. How can companies navigate these challenges and contribute effectively to global net zero? Find out in our latest blog: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e6-nsN-p

To support market actors seeking to navigate an increasingly regulated global carbon market, Gold Standard has developed a Carbon Market Regulations Tracker with support from South Pole. The new repository will increase awareness of and visibility on regulations across continents for project developers, governments, and other market actors, which can enable compliance, inform decision-making, and allow the identification of trends and best practice.    Upon first release, the tracker covered 34 jurisdictions, including 41 international, national, and subnational regulations. Its information covered the type and status of regulation, entry into force dates, a comprehensive summary, and useful links.    The tracker is hosted on the Gold Standard website and will be regularly maintained to ensure it remains a relevant tool for fostering market certainty and facilitating knowledge sharing among key market stakeholders across jurisdictions.   Gold Standard will host a webinar on 17 July, during which South Pole will present the new tracker and a panel will explore emerging trends in national regulations, implications for market actors, and examples of good practice.   Find out more by: Reading the news release: https://lnkd.in/g_xqSQw2 Visiting the tracker: https://lnkd.in/epH6iHxH Registering for the webinar taking place on 17 July: https://lnkd.in/ghy42vmX

Reducing Scope 3 emissions is vital if we are to combat the climate crisis successfully.    But it presents challenges. Indirect emissions from suppliers, vendors, and customers are hard to trace, measure, and manage.    In our last blog, we argued that, while carbon credits are a powerful tool for companies to take responsibility for all their unabated emissions while they work to reduce or eliminate them, they are not a replacement for action to reduce within-value-chain emissions.    This leaves the question: How should companies both take responsibility for and tackle their Scope 3 emissions?    Find out the answer in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/eithEA2R