Carbon registry organization Gold Standard has announced that it is initiating a two-year pilot phase to test its draft Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Labelling Requirements in real-world settings.
Open to a maximum of six pilot projects, the program aims to evaluate the practical application of these requirements, ensuring they are both effective and adaptable to on-the-ground challenges.
The full Terms of Reference (ToRs) are available here, and applications will be accepted until November 21.
As the term “nature-based solutions” gains wider application in project development, there is an increasing need for clear guidelines and standards to distinguish projects that genuinely align with NbS principles.
Gold Standard’s draft requirements are designed to identify projects that follow collaborative approaches and actively address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 13, 14, or 15, along with one or more societal challenges, according to the ToRs.
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This pilot offers a critical opportunity to gather insights on the draft NbS certification standards, which will help refine the requirements before submitting them for formal review and approval under the Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG).
The findings will be instrumental in shaping the final NbS Labelling Requirements to support effective nature-based solutions in achieving meaningful, measurable climate and sustainability impacts.
Projects selected for the pilot can apply the NbS certification label to initiatives that aim to issue Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions (GS-VERs) or Impact Statements, signaling their alignment with high standards of environmental and social impact.
This initial phase will allow project developers and stakeholders to provide feedback, addressing any unforeseen obstacles that may arise when the requirements are applied to real projects.
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