When you offset your carbon emissions with Gold Standard, you’re not only helping to protect the planet from the effects of climate change; you’re helping to improve the lives of people in vulnerable communities by supporting sustainable development. Gold Standard projects lead to benefits such as the creation of jobs, protection of endangered species, access to safe water, and improved health and livelihoods.

Through our Offset Your Emissions page, Gold Standard sells verified emission reductions (carbon credits) on behalf of the project developers running these projects. We have calculated prices based on the Fairtrade carbon credit pricing model and adjusted according to the added benefits different types of projects deliver beyond simply reducing carbon. Using data from the Vivid Economics study ‘Valuating the benefits from improved cooking solutions’ and ‘The real value of robust climate action’ report published by Netbalance, we have added 2 cents for every $ of shared value created by the projects. The prices can be located in the project profiles. 

80% of the proceeds go to the project developers to help maintain and expand their life-changing, climate-saving projects. The remaining 20% is used to cover variable PayPal service charges and the administrative costs in maintaining the platform and retiring the credits. 

To help those wanting to offset with a variety of projects, you can now choose to offset with a Climate+ Portfolio. The portfolio includes Certified Emission Reductions (CERs). Prices are set by calculating the average price across the project types available in the portfolio. Proceeds from CERs go directly to Gold Standard to support our Initiatives and Innovations and the ongoing improvement of Gold Standard for the Global Goals.