In accordance with our mission, we continue to pilot and scale new ways to monitor impact to get better data more efficiently and to reduce transaction costs and improve processes for developers and auditors. 

In support of these efforts, we are delighted to announce the following new updates and releases:

1. SDG Impact Tool that standardises and streamlines SDG impact reporting for project developers and auditors
2. Preliminary review form that provides guidance on how to navigate our standard, especially as a new project developer
3. Methodology for metered & measured energy cooking devices that quantifies GHG impact with real-time, direct measurement of energy/fuels
4. Shipping methodology updated to include an alternative, less time-consuming method to calculate project fuel consumption + savings  

This communication also includes an extension to the interim COVID-19 measures, updates to the voluntary carbon market practitioners' guide to reflect COP26 outcomes, and an announcement of the Article 6 Consultation Group due to convene early next year.

 NEW TOOL 
 

SDG IMPACT TOOL  

New SDG Impact Tool to more efficiently monitor, quantify and verify a project's contributions to the SDGs, is ready for use. 

The Gold Standard SDG Impact Tool makes it easier and less expensive for project developers to deliver more positive impact and measure those impacts quantitively, ensuring specific and credible impact claims. 
 

Built on principles formed in the  SDG Tool Guidance and piloted in the first half of 2021, this excel-based tool provides a standardised template to clearly and transparently monitor SDG impact alongside carbon reductions -- simplifying the process, minimising the cost of Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), whilst enabling consistent and meaningful contributions to the SDGs. 

To support the use of this tool, we have developed a step-by-step user manual, a brief demo, and case studies for different project types to provide examples of how the tool can be applied in practice.  

The SDG Impact Tool is now released for public use and will become a mandatory part of the project development cycle from 13 March 2022. 
 

NEXT STEPS

We are working to further automate and digitise the tools to seamlessly integrate them into the standard documents and certification workflows. This will deliver enhanced impact reporting capabilities, including a compelling way to visualise impacts.  
 

For any queries or questions related to this tool, please email help@goldstandard.org 

RESOURCES

THE SDG IMPACT TOOL  A excel-based standardised template to easily, clearly and transparently monitor SDG impact 

USER MANUAL  A step-by-step guide for using the SDG Impact Tool 

CASE STUDIES   Examples of how the tool can be applied in practice for different project types and how impacts can be visualised for communications 

SDG IMPACT TOOL DEMO  A quick demonstration of the tool and its benefits 

SDG TOOL GUIDANCE  The original principles co-developed with myclimate, Climate Seed, the Swedish Energy Agency, and UN SDSN 

 NEW TEMPLATE 
 

PRELIMINARY REVIEW FORM   

New template to guide the project developers in evaluating the eligibility of their projects and compiling all necessary information for a fast and successful preliminary review process. 

The preliminary review process gives an early indication to project developers, before resources are committed, of the eligibility of a project. This step is not a certification decision, but it helps project developers close project design gaps early in the process. This new template provides more structured guidance to streamline this process. It is to be submitted along with the Project Design Document, the stakeholder consultation report, and all other documents required for preliminary review. 

The Preliminary Review Form is now released for public use and will become a mandatory part of the project development cycle for all projects submitting requests for preliminary review from 08 March 2022. Before that date, using the form is optional. 

For any queries or questions related to this tool, email help@goldstandard.org 
 

 NEW METHODOLOGY 
 

METHODOLOGY FOR METERED & MEASURED ENERGY COOKING DEVICES

New approach to quantify GHG impact from metered cooking devices through direct measurement of energy or fuel  

This new methodology applies to modern energy cooking appliances that directly measure in real-time the amount of energy or fuel used in the project scenario. This includes, but not restricted to, LPG, electric and biogas metered cookstoves, and bio-ethanol cookstoves.  
 

The methodology was developed and submitted by ClimateCare and Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) and aims to use the data capabilities of modern energy cooking appliances to scale carbon finance for clean cooking solutions.  

 NEW METHODOLOGY 
 

METHODOLOGY FOR RETROFIT ENERGY EFFICIENCY MEASURES IN SHIPPING

New annex provides an alternative and less time-consuming method to monitor and calculate project fuel consumption and savings.

The new SGDL model is based on code/software that has been developed by the Sea Grant Design Laboratory (SGDL) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). It uses regression models based on a ship’s physical characteristics and hydrodynamics, together with its speed, loading condition, and resistance traveling through the water, to calculate the project fuel consumption and savings.
 
The code/software has been made publicly available at no cost via the MIT Sea Grant website.
 

  RULE UPDATE  
 

COVID-19 INTERIM MEASURES 

The COVID-19 Interim Measures will be further extended by six months to 30 June 2022. The interim measures will also be updated to include new requirements and procedures for physical stakeholder meetings and Stakeholder Feedback Rounds that are delayed due to the pandemic. These measures will be updated and released before the end of the year.
 

  GUIDE UPDATE   
 

ALIGNING THE VOLUNTARY CARBON MARKET WITH THE PARIS AGREEMENT: A Practitioner's guide 

This online practitioner's guide provides up-to-date information on what changes will, or are likely to, be required to align the Voluntary Carbon Market with the Paris Agreement. The guide has been updated to reflect the latest developments from COP26. 
 

  WORKING GROUP    
 

EXPERT CONSULTATION GROUP ON ALIGNMENT WITH THE PARIS AGREEMENT  

We’re delighted to announce the experts participating in the Consultation Group and smaller Working Group formed to support and advise on the strategic and technical issues that Gold Standard should consider when aligning its carbon market operations with the Paris Agreement. To follow progress, sign-up to our newsletter.