Gold Standard, one of the leading certification bodies for carbon credits, is inviting companies to join a new working group aimed at developing practical approaches for addressing emissions that remain as businesses work toward net zero targets.
The initiative follows the Science Based Targets initiative’s recognition of Ongoing Emissions Responsibility, or OER, in its Corporate Net-Zero Standard 2.0. According to Gold Standard, the next challenge is establishing how companies can apply the concept consistently and credibly.
The new group will bring together a small cohort of companies with established climate targets to examine how OER can be incorporated into corporate transition plans and climate action portfolios.
Participants will also consider which activities and financial instruments could qualify, how companies can collaborate under the SBTi framework and how progress can be communicated in a way that is transparent and defensible.
Gold Standard Seeks Practical Models For Corporate Climate Action
Gold Standard said the working group will use companies’ real-world portfolios to identify challenges and develop guidance, practical solutions and case studies for OER.
The organization has previously published research on climate finance beyond companies’ value chains, including a June 2026 report on ongoing emissions. It said indicative analysis suggests that applying the “Advanced” contribution levels outlined by SBTi across companies in the European Union and United States could generate about $17 billion a year for climate action.
Relevant: Gold Standard: $17B A Year Could Flow To Climate Action If Companies Account For Ongoing Emissions
SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard 2.0 includes a voluntary recognition program for companies addressing ongoing emissions, with the broader OER framework expected to launch in 2027. Companies with targets under both the current standard and Version 2.0 will be eligible to participate if they meet defined integrity requirements.
“Our new Ongoing Emissions Responsibility Working Group gives companies the opportunity to shape best practice for a new era of climate action,” Gold Standard CEO Margaret Kim said.
The working group is intended to develop approaches that companies can use in 2027, as the OER framework moves from recognition toward implementation. Interested parties are invited to register here.
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