Gold Standard is working on adding more carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methodologies to its registry of certified projects.
Limiting global warming to a 1.5-degree increase compared to preindustrial times will require reducing emissions from their sources as well as retiring the CO2 that is already present in the atmosphere, experts say.
In order for CDR to have a meaningful effect in this scenario, analysis shows that we need to increase CO2 removal from the current levels of 2 gigatons per year to 6–10 gigatons removed annually by 2050.
Monitoring for integrity and quality on the voluntary carbon market (VCM), Switzerland-based Gold Standard is now looking into expanding its portfolio of approved methodologies for carbon removal in an effort to scale up this promising sector.
Advocating that climate action must focus on reducing CO2 emissions in the first place and CDR should be used as a complementary decarbonization measure, the standard is now exploring new removal options both in engineered and nature-based solutions.
In the engineered category, Gold Standard is looking for feedback on revisions made to their Carbon Sequestration through the Accelerated Carbonation of Concrete Aggregate (V1.0), examining suitability beyond waste concrete into a wider range of reactive mineral wastes.
By developing a methodological tool for calculating the reversal risks associated with geological carbon storage, the standard intends to help developers adjust project expectations.
The methodology for biomass fermentation with carbon capture and geological storage now has a Rule Update, adding eligible CO2 sources beyond fermentation and enabling for consideration biogenic emissions generated from bioenergy, anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, and gasification.
In collaboration with Neustark, Gold Standard will also update its methodology for carbon mineralization, widening its reach.
In the category of nature-based CDR solutions, Gold Standard recently released the Blue Carbon and Freshwater Wetlands Activity Requirements and the Methodology for the Sustainable Management of Mangroves, giving way to more emissions-removing approaches.
The standard shared that looking ahead, they will continue introducing new methodologies, promoting verified, impactful emission reductions that will contribute towards climate goals.
Read more: New Mangrove Methodology Featuring Remote-Sensing Expands Nature-based Solutions From Gold Standard
