At a time of change and evolution in the voluntary carbon market, we're looking for your input on proposals to align Gold Standard with the Paris Agreement, to ensure the continued integrity, quality and broad applicability of Gold Standard credits. 
 
In support of this consultation and to answer your questions about implications and opportunities for your projects, we are hosting a webinar on Wednesday 03 March 2021 at 16:00 CET/10:00 EST.

On 27 January, the Taskforce on Scaling the Voluntary Carbon Market published a blueprint for improving market infrastructure to enable voluntary carbon trading to scale up significantly. The next day, the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) launched a consultation on criteria for a corporate net zero standard, including the role of voluntary carbon credits. And this November, UNFCCC negotiators are due to adopt guidance under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, expected to provide the framework for carbon trading in the post-2020 period and set a benchmark for activities serving the voluntary market, as the CDM has done historically.

In this changing context, Gold Standard aims to be at the forefront of efforts to ensure carbon market activities represent best practice in the post-2020 period, that opportunities for Gold Standard credits are maximised, and that the claims made when credits are used have integrity. 

We are therefore seeking feedback on two documents: 

During this time of increased change in the voluntary carbon market, Gold Standard seeks to create more clarity, certainty and opportunity for all market participants, especially for existing projects set up prior to 2021 that wish to continue operations in the post-2020 period. The purpose of these documents is to give as much visibility to project developers as possible, providing an early opportunity for feedback.

The consultation is open to comment until 15 April 2021. Input received will inform how Gold Standard updates its rules, requirements and criteria to reflect the new context, and in particular emerging UN requirements under the Paris Agreement.

These documents form part of the VCM Transition Framework Programme supported by the German Ministry of Environment, Nature conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), and in partnership with atmosfair, which aims to help project developers to manage this transition smoothly and seize new opportunities in a diversifying landscape. 

If you would like more information on any of the above, email standards@goldstandard.org outlining your questions, concerns or areas for clarification.
 

FURTHER READING

• Article 6 Corresponding Adjustments
  PUBLISHED ON Carbon Mechanism
• Proposal for guidance on robust accounting under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
  PUBLISHED ON IETA
• Practical strategies to avoid overselling
  PUBLISHED ON INFRAS
• Decoding Article 6 of the Paris Agreement 
  PUBLISHED ON Asian Development Bank
• When less is more: limits to international transfers under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
  PUBLISHED ON Taylor & Francis Online
• Avoiding double counting between CORSIA and Nationally Determined Contributions
  PUBLISHED ON DEHSt
• Avoiding Double Counting for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation
  PUBLISHED ON Gold Standard

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