Gold Standard was founded to ensure carbon markets feature the highest levels of environmental integrity and contribute towards sustainable development.
We continue to strengthen and scale efforts across a range of environmental markets and financials initiatives, focused on making it simpler for high-impact climate and development projects to achieve certification and access markets in the context of the new Paris Agreement Framework.
Would you like to know more about our market initiatives, please contact
[email protected]Voluntary carbon markets enable businesses and individuals to take responsibility for their unavoidable emissions by financing verified emission reductions and removals beyond their own value chains. By channelling private finance into climate action where it is most needed, VCMs help close the emissions, finance and time gaps identified under the Paris Agreement.
Gold Standard carbon credits represent one tonne of CO₂ equivalent reduced or removed, and are underpinned by robust safeguards, inclusive stakeholder engagement and verified contributions to at least three Sustainable Development Goals.
Learn more about Voluntary Carbon Markets and Gold Standard’s approach
Article 6 of the Paris Agreement enables countries to cooperate in achieving their Nationally Determined Contributions through the transfer of mitigation outcomes, a UN-supervised crediting mechanism and non-market approaches. As international carbon markets evolve, robust implementation of Article 6 is essential to ensure environmental integrity, avoid double counting and maintain trust across jurisdictions.
Gold Standard supports the operationalisation of Article 6 through aligned rules, infrastructure and guidance that enable high-integrity mitigation activities to participate in international cooperation.
Learn more about how Gold Standard supports Article 6 implementation
The Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is a global market-based mechanism established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to address greenhouse gas emissions from international aviation. Airlines from participating countries are required to monitor, report and offset emissions growth above a 2019 baseline using eligible carbon credits.
CORSIA is being implemented in phases, with Phase 1 (2024–2026) currently underway and Phase 2 (2027–2035) expanding participation and making compliance mandatory for most countries. The scheme complements other aviation decarbonisation measures, including efficiency improvements and sustainable aviation fuels, by addressing emissions that cannot yet be reduced directly.
Gold Standard is recognised by ICAO as an eligible crediting programme for CORSIA. Appropriately authorised and labelled Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions (GSVERs) can be used by airlines to meet their obligations and are clearly identified in the Gold Standard Impact Registry.
Read more about CORSIA
At least 42% of electricity must be supplied by renewable sources by 2030 to reach net zero emissions by midcentury -- the ambition of the Paris Agreement -- which requires doubling renewable power capacity. The private sector is key to this transition, yet some companies are limited in their ability to source renewable energy directly. Renewable energy markets allow these companies to purchase clean energy from their grid.
By purchasing clean energy -- whether directly or through renewable energy markets -- companies demonstrate a commitment to being more environmentally friendly, something clients, consumers + civil society are increasingly demanding.
Learn more about Renewable Energy Markets and Gold Standard’s approach