ACTIVE PARTNER PROGRAMMES.
We are offering our stakeholders opportunities for collaboration at different levels:
Future proofing the Voluntary Carbon Markets
The Paris Agreement poses a new framework for carbon markets. While the Kyoto Protocol was limited in both coverage and ambition, the Paris Agreement applies to all countries and its ambition introduces global net zero emissions targets.
These changes prompted reflection on how the voluntary carbon market can best contribute to the ambitions of the Paris Agreement. With support from the German government, Gold Standard convened a working group, including WWF, CDP, WRI, The Nature Conservancy, Carbon Market Watch, ICROA and other standards bodies, to define the nature of voluntary carbon credits, associated claims, and implications on accounting in this new context.
Next steps: The most recent output is currently in public consultation>> Phase 2 of the work is likely to develop guidance that further defines target setting, credible claims, and best practices for financing beyond boundaries.
ValueChange Programme
Value chain or “Scope 3” emissions are often the largest source of corporate carbon footprints, yet to date have been the lowest priority for most companies. With support from EIT Climate-KIC, Gold Standard and partners launched the Value Change Programme>>, which features practical tools that remove barriers to addressing value chain emissions and enables credible reporting of reductions to the GHG Protocol.
Next steps: We will set up working groups to develop further guidance for priority sectors, including agricultural interventions, textiles/apparel, chemicals, electronics and transport. We are also working with partners on guidance or a protocol for credible deforestation-related claims.
SDG Impact Tools development
To ensure market mechanisms effectively channel finance to high-impact projects and contribute to the SDGs in a meaningful way, while also stemming the emergence of “SDG washing”, quantification and claims of sustainable development outcomes must be rigorous, credible and yet simple to achieve.
Gold Standard is developing SDG Impact Tools that will ensure credible and accurate SDG impact claims, help standardise impact indicators and enable multiple SDG impacts while minimising the extra burden of MRV.
Next steps: We will shortly be publishing guidance – supported by myclimate, Climate Seed, the Swedish Energy Agency, and UN SDSN - to inform impact and indicator identification and tool development. We are now seeking partners to participate in working groups on the Platform for various activity types, including community services, renewable energy, land use and more.
Download the SDG Impact Tools Development Programme Overview>>
Next Generation MRV
Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) is critical in delivering credible impacts, however, it can often be time consuming and costly. As part of an effort to drive adoption of new technology solutions to improve efficiencies and reduce the burden of MRV, Gold Standard is working with the Climate Ledger Initiative, with support from the Swiss Government and Climate-KIC – to develop a series use-cases across the four pillars of next-generation MRV: data collection, data verification, impact quantification, and issuance and tokenization.
Next steps: We will develop targeted use-case studies across the four pillars, focusing on four thematic areas: renewable energy (grid connected), technology distribution projects, forestry, and transport.