Today, Gold Standard has for the first time labelled carbon credits as eligible to be used under Phase One of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), marking a step forward in the functioning of CORSIA and other compliance frameworks worldwide.
In a related development Gold Standard has also announced the approval of a new insurance policy under provider, Artio, for use by project developers seeking eligibility for Gold Standard Verified Reductions under Phase One of CORSIA.
The credits were issued to a clean cooking programme in Malawi, implemented by project developer Hestian, which distributes energy efficient, locally manufactured cookstoves to rural households. These stoves reduce fuel use and smoke while freeing up time for women and children to participate fully in education, work and community life.
More than 1.5 million Gold Standard carbon credits from Hestian’s GS11677 Biomass Energy Conservation Programme have been labelled as eligible for use in CORSIA’s first compliance phase. This is the second project under any standard worldwide to have issued credits identified as eligible and the first located in Africa.
This milestone follows the Government of Malawi’s submission of Article 6 reporting to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in which it applied corresponding adjustments for the labelled credits. It is an important demonstration of how international cooperation under the Paris Agreement can expand access to climate finance and drive tangible impact on the ground. It also reinforces Gold Standard’s commitment to market interoperability that open new opportunities for project developers around the world.
“This milestone demonstrates how climate policy can deliver tangible benefits for people and the planet. Through CORSIA, airlines can channel investment into transformative projects that not only reduce emissions but also improve wellbeing, empower women, and protect ecosystems. The Government of Malawi and Hestian have shown remarkable leadership, proving that local climate action can deliver global impact.” said Margaret Kim, Chief Executive Office at Gold Standard.
“At Hestian, we would like to thank all the people that have helped make our programme CORSIA eligible. We hope this can be a precedent to unlock the vital carbon finance required to facilitate universal access to cleaner cooking in Malawi and beyond, leaving no-one behind.” said Conor Fox, Director at Hestian.
"High-integrity carbon finance can help make clean cooking affordable and accessible for millions of households. Through CORSIA, we have a valuable pathway to mobilize the resources needed to scale up energy solutions where they’re needed most,” said Dymphna van der Lans, Chief Executive Officer at the Clean Cooking Alliance
"IATA congratulates the Government of Malawi, Gold Standard, and Hestian for supplying CORSIA-eligible emissions units, only the second State to do so.
This progress well demonstrates the strong commitment of the government and carbon market stakeholders to facilitate the robust implementation of CORSIA.
IATA urges more host countries to take similar early and necessary steps which help create a transparent and liquid carbon market, develop climate finance, and deliver wider socio-economic benefits to the local communities." said Marie Owen Thomsen, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Chief Economist at IATA.
Building on this progress, Gold Standard has also approved Artio’s CORSIA Adjustment Cover for use within Gold Standard’s CORSIA frameworks. Artio will join insurance providers, Oka, The Carbon Insurance Company and CFC Underwriting Limited as the first private insurance policies for use by project developers seeking eligibility in Phase One of CORSIA. These policies assessed by Howden help mitigate the risk of double counting under CORSIA, preserving the high-integrity of Gold Standard credits.
The labelling is the latest of several recent developments from Gold Standard on Article 6. Earlier this month, Gold Standard applied its first ever corresponding adjustment labels to GS VERs issued to a clean cookstove project in Zimbabwe, implemented by Cicada Carbon. Gold Standard has also published more details on its plan to fully align with the Paris Agreement from 2026.
This milestone demonstrates the power of partnership between governments, project developers, and certification bodies to deliver climate solutions that work for both people and the planet. As carbon markets evolve, Gold Standard will continue to ensure that communities like those in Malawi benefit from credible climate finance that drives measurable, lasting change.