Carbon registry organization Gold Standard has announced new updates to its certification framework aimed at enhancing environmental integrity and supporting alignment with the Paris Agreement, according to a media release on Thursday.
These revisions include updated rules for baseline setting, additionality, and the accounting of non-renewable biomass (fNRB), with changes intended to offer clearer guidance to project developers while ensuring continued credibility in carbon markets.
Effective from January 1, 2026, updated requirements will include:
- Methodology Development V1.0 to bolster the robustness of carbon crediting methods.
- Additionality Demonstration V1.0, providing a framework to confirm that emission reductions go beyond business-as-usual under the Paris Agreement.
- Greenhouse gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction and Sequestration Product Requirements aligning with Article 6 decisions adopted at COP29.
For clean cooking projects, biomass accounting updates reflect recent advancements in methodology and data by the UNFCCC and ICVCM.
Read more: Singapore, Gold Standard And Verra Share Their Recommendations On Article 6 Crediting Protocol
fNRB, a critical factor for quantifying impact, will no longer be based on the CDM Tool 30 from June 30, 2025. All pre-approved fNRB values will expire by December 31, 2025.
New approaches include tools like MoFuSS, CDM Tool 33, or future Paris Agreement-aligned methods.
Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard, emphasized the need for high-integrity practices and fair pricing to reflect the increasing complexity and demands on project developers.
Gold Standard urges buyers to recognize the added value of these changes to the certification framework and support higher-impact climate action through fair compensation.
A stakeholder webinar will be held on May 20, 2025, to provide further details and guidance. Interested parties are required to resister here.
This webinar marks the beginning of Gold Standard’s Stakeholder Engagement and Implementation Timeline, based on a phased approach designed to ensure smooth implementation and provide transition support for stakeholders.
Read more: ICVCM Gives Green Light For Three Stricter Cookstove Methodologies
