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to Gold Standard

Certifying your project to Gold Standard for the Global Goals enables you to design your project for maximum positive impact and quantify outcomes toward climate security and sustainable development in the most credible way.

 

Standard requirements are tailored to your specific activity and objectives - whether you wish to monetise impacts through issuance of carbon credits or other instruments, or simply certify project impacts for credibility and brand value.  New user-friendly IT tools currently in development will simplify monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and provide dynamic data visualisation capabilities to bring your project's impact to life.

Developers have multiple options for certification: 

GREATER IMPACT AND VALUE

 

Rigorous safeguards, stakeholder engagement, and methodologies maximise the climate and SDG impacts of your projects. For those issuing environmental commodities like carbon credits, this often leads to price premiums. Gold Standard also offers the ability to calculate the economic value created by your specific project and communicate this impact in compelling

STREAMLINED PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

 

Our partnership with SustainCERT, the official certification body for Gold Standard for the Global Goals, is geared to reduce costs and complexities of the certification process, with an aim to fully digitise the certification process by 2020.

 

 

BRAND REPUTATION

 

Our NGO Supporter Network and strategic partnerships with industry thought leaders helps ensure that we remain the highest standard for climate and development initiatives.

 

 

 

PLAN PROJECT AND HOLD STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

Before the project starts, Project Developers should:

  • Confirm the basic project design
  • Assess against Gold Standard safeguards
  • Estimate climate and sustainable development impacts
  • Prepare a Key Project Information note summarising the above

Hold a Gold Standard Stakeholder Consultation Meeting

To start the Gold Standard certification process, projects must open a registry account and pay the annual registry fee of ($1000). See Gold Standard Principles + Requirements for more details

 

PRELIMINARY REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews draft documentation and requests clarifications where required.

Projects must:

  • Submit a completed Stakeholder Consultation Report
  • Submit Draft Project Design Document (PDD), including:
    - Safeguarding Principles Assessment
    - Estimation of climate and sustainable development impacts
    - Monitoring Plan
  • Submit signed GS4GG Cover Letter
  • Submit signed Gold Standard Terms & Conditions
  • Pay Preliminary Review Fee ($900*)
 

PRELIMINARY DESIGN APPROVAL

Approval of the Preliminary Review by SustainCERT results in “GOLD STANDARD PROJECT LISTED” status, giving the project the green light to move forward.

 

THIRD-PARTY VALIDATION

Independent assessment conducted by an accredited validation and verification body (VVB). This consists of both a desk review and field visit and provides independent confirmation that the project is in line with the Gold Standard Requirements.

Projects must:

  • Have “Gold Standard Project Listed” status
  • Identify, contract and pay VVB to carry out validation - Find an approved VVB>>
  • Provide a fully completed Project Design Document (PDD) and all relevant supporting documentation for VVB validation

 

PROJECT DESIGN REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews documentation and requests clarifications and resolutions of corrective actions where required.

Projects must:

  • Have a positive validation opinion from VVB
  • Submit VVB approved Project Design Document (PDD) and all relevant supporting documentation
  • Submit VVB Final Validation Report
  • Pay Design Review Fee ($1000*)

 

DESIGN CERTIFICATION

SustainCERT certifies:

  • Safeguards are covered by the project design
  • Stakeholder inclusive design
  • Robust monitoring plan
  • Estimated climate and sustainable development impacts

Approval results in “GOLD STANDARD DESIGN CERTIFIED” status

 

PROJECT MONITORING 

Project Developer monitors project according to the approved monitoring plan.

Projects must:

  • Continuously engage with stakeholders
  • Submit Annual Reports in years when verification does not occur
  • Prepare a Monitoring Report for verification to request issuance of impact statements and/or products

 

THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION

Independent assessment conducted by an accredited validation and verification body (VVB). This consists of both a desk review and field visit and provides independent confirmation that the project and its impacts are in line with the Gold Standard Requirements.

Projects must:

  • Have “Gold Standard Design Certified” status
  • Identify, contract and pay VVB to carry out verification
  • Provide a fully completed Monitoring Report (MR) and all relevant supporting documentation for VVB verification

PERFORMANCE REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews documentation and requests clarifications and resolutions of corrective actions where required.

Project must:

  • Have a positive verification opinion from VVB
  • Submit VVB approved Monitoring Report and all relevant supporting documentation
  • Submit VVB Final Verification Report
  • Pay Performance Review Fee ($1000*)

 

PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION

SustainCERT certifies:

  • Adherence to safeguards
  • Adherence to stakeholder inclusivity
  • Climate and sustainable development impact achieved

Issuance of certified SDG impact statements and/or products

Approval results in “CERTIFIED GOLD STANDARD PROJECT” status and Gold Standard issuance of certified products and/or impact statements.

KEY

* Review fees vary according to project type – this is the most common fee

For transparency, all projects are published in the Gold Standard Impact Registry at the beginning of the process.

Our standard documents are grouped by scope and purpose and are customised to feature the relevant requirements, safeguards, and methodologies based on what your project aims to achieve. 

PLAN PROJECT AND HOLD STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION

Before the project starts, Project Developers should:

  • Confirm the basic project design
  • Assess against Gold Standard safeguards
  • Estimate climate and sustainable development impacts
  • Prepare a Key Project Information note summarising the above

Hold a Gold Standard Stakeholder Consultation Meeting

To start the Gold Standard certification process, projects must open a registry account and pay the annual registry fee of ($1000). See Gold Standard Principles + Requirements for more details

 

PRELIMINARY REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews draft documentation and requests clarifications where required.

Projects must:

  • Submit a completed Stakeholder Consultation Report
  • Submit Draft Project Design Document (PDD), including:
    - Safeguarding Principles Assessment
    - Estimation of climate and sustainable development impacts
    - Monitoring Plan
  • Submit signed GS4GG Cover Letter
  • Submit signed Gold Standard Terms & Conditions
  • Pay Preliminary Review Fee ($900*)
 

PRELIMINARY DESIGN APPROVAL

Approval of the Preliminary Review by SustainCERT results in “GOLD STANDARD PROJECT LISTED” status, giving the project the green light to move forward.

 

THIRD-PARTY VALIDATION

Independent assessment conducted by an accredited validation and verification body (VVB). This consists of both a desk review and field visit and provides independent confirmation that the project is in line with the Gold Standard Requirements.

Projects must:

  • Have “Gold Standard Project Listed” status
  • Identify, contract and pay VVB to carry out validation - Find an approved VVB>>
  • Provide a fully completed Project Design Document (PDD) and all relevant supporting documentation for VVB validation

 

PROJECT DESIGN REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews documentation and requests clarifications and resolutions of corrective actions where required.

Projects must:

  • Have a positive validation opinion from VVB
  • Submit VVB approved Project Design Document (PDD) and all relevant supporting documentation
  • Submit VVB Final Validation Report
  • Pay Design Review Fee ($1000*)

 

DESIGN CERTIFICATION

SustainCERT certifies:

  • Safeguards are covered by the project design
  • Stakeholder inclusive design
  • Robust monitoring plan
  • Estimated climate and sustainable development impacts

Approval results in “GOLD STANDARD DESIGN CERTIFIED” status

 

PROJECT MONITORING 

Project Developer monitors project according to the approved monitoring plan.

Projects must:

  • Continuously engage with stakeholders
  • Submit Annual Reports in years when verification does not occur
  • Prepare a Monitoring Report for verification to request issuance of impact statements and/or products

 

THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION

Independent assessment conducted by an accredited validation and verification body (VVB). This consists of both a desk review and field visit and provides independent confirmation that the project and its impacts are in line with the Gold Standard Requirements.

Projects must:

  • Have “Gold Standard Design Certified” status
  • Identify, contract and pay VVB to carry out verification - Find an approved VVB>>
  • Provide a fully completed Project Monitoring Report (MR) and all relevant supporting documentation for VVB verification

 

PERFORMANCE REVIEW BY SUSTAINCERT

SustainCERT reviews documentation and requests clarifications and resolutions of corrective actions where required.

Project must:

  • Have a positive verification opinion from VVB
  • Submit VVB approved Monitoring Report and all relevant supporting documentation
  • Submit VVB Final Verification Report
  • Pay Performance Review Fee ($1000*)

 

PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATION

SustainCERT certifies:

  • Adherence to safeguards
  • Adherence to stakeholder inclusivity
  • Climate and sustainable development impact achieved

Issuance of certified SDG impact statements and/or products

Approval results in “CERTIFIED GOLD STANDARD PROJECT” status and Gold Standard issuance of certified products and/or impact statements.

KEY

For transparency, all projects are published in the Gold Standard Impact Registry at the beginning of the process.

Our standard documents are grouped by scope and purpose and are customised to what your project aims to achieve. 

Gold Standard for the Global Goals is our next-generation standard, designed to accelerate progress toward climate security and sustainable development. The standard enables initiatives to quantify, certify and maximize their impacts toward climate security and the Sustainable Development Goals, while enhanced safeguards, holistic project design, management of trade-offs and local stakeholder engagement ensure Gold Standard continues to deliver the highest levels of environmental and social integrity.

1
Principles and Requirements

Applicable to all projects

2 3
Activity Requirements

Specific to project type and context (eg, community based or urban)

3 4 6 2 1 2 2 2 8 8 4 6 6 6 6 3
SDG Impact Methodologies

Specific to project and technology type and desired relevant SDG impact

Product Requirements

Specific to assets issued (eg, carbon credits or renewable energy labels)

Product Requirements

Specific to assets issued (eg, carbon credits or renewable energy labels)

1
Product Requirements

Specific to assets issued (eg, carbon credits or renewable energy labels)

2 3
SDG Impact Methodologies

Specific to project and technology type and desired relevant SDG impact

3 4 6 2 1 2 2 2 8 8 4 6 6 6 6 3
Product Requirements

Specific to assets issued (eg, carbon credits or renewable energy labels)

Certification costs vary according to project type, scale, and complexity. Fees paid to Gold Standard include an issuance fee on products like carbon credits or renewable energy labels, plus a flat fee for tracking on our public Impact Registry.

Additional costs come from project implementation, third-party reviews by approved Validation and Verification Bodies, and certification review fees paid to SustainCERT, the official certification provide for Gold Standard for the Global Goals.

View the Gold Standard for the Global Goals fee schedule

Estimate your project costs

FEES LISTING

registry fees
Project Types/Party Fee Type Fee
All, VVB Annual Registry Account Fee $1,000 per account
All, VVB Account Reactivation Fee $2,500 per suspension

 

Certification Review Fees
Project Types/Party Fee Type Fee
Microscale CarbonPreliminary Review$500 per project
LUF CarbonPreliminary Review$3,500 per project
All otherPreliminary Review$900 per project
VER CarbonProject Design Review$0.15 per credit minus Preliminary Review Fee
GS CER CarbonProject Design Review$0.05 per credit minus Preliminary Review Fee
Renewable Energy LabelsProject Design Review$1,500 per project
ADALYs, Black CarbonProject Design Review$4,500 per project
Microscale CarbonPerformance Review$650 per project
LUF CarbonPerformance Review$1,500 per project
ADALYs, Black CarbonPerformance Review$4,500 per project
All otherPerformance Review$1,000 per project

 

Fees for First Year of Issuance
Project Types/Party Fee Type Fee
Carbon Gold Standard VER (Cash Fee and SOP) $0.15 per credit minus Performance Review fee paid
Carbon Gold Standard CERs (Cash Fee and SOP) $0.05 per credit minus Performance Review Fee
ADALYs --- To be determined
RECs --- $0.10 per certificate
LUF Carbon --- $0.30 per certificate

 

Subsequent Issuances
Project Types/Party Fee Type Fee
Carbon Gold Standard VER Cash Fee Structure $0.30 per credit minus Performance Review fee paid
Carbon Gold Standard CER Cash Fee Structure $0.10 per credit minus Performance Review fee paid
Carbon Gold Standard VER SOP Fee Structure $0.10 per credit + 2% of issuance minus Performance Review fee paid
Carbon Gold Standard CER SOP Fee Structure $0.02 per credit plus 1.5% of issuance minus Performance Review fee paid
ADALYs --- To be determined
RECs --- $0.10 per certificate
LUF Carbon --- $0.30 per certificate

 

Microscale Validation and Verification Fund Fees (Standalone & Programme)
Project Types/Party Fee Type Fee
CarbonStandalone - Validation Fee$5,000 per project
CarbonStandalone - Annual Verification Fee$2,500 per project per year
CarbonProgramme - Validation$20,000 per programme
CarbonProgramme - 1st VPA Validation Fee$2,500
CarbonProgramme - Inclusion/Validation Fee$2,500 per additional VPA
CarbonProgramme – Annual Verification Fee$1,500 per VPA

 

Other Services
Project Types/Party Fee Type Fee
CarbonAdditional Rounds of Review$50 per hour
CarbonCrediting Renewal Period Fee$0.15 per credit (annual average)
CarbonDesign Change FeeThe greater of $500 or $0.10 per credit, plus any applicable issuance fee
CarbonExpedited Review Fee$2,500
CarbonMethodology Approval FeePlease contact Gold Standard
LUF CarbonSoil Review Fee$500

 

Conversion Fees
Project Types/Party Fee Type Fee
Carbon Gold Standard CER to Gold Standard VER Dependent upon any required certification reviews (please contact Gold Standard)
Renewable Energy Labels (for RECs)  Gold Standard VER/CER to Renewable Energy Label $750 per project

 

VVB Accreditation Fees
Project Types/Party Fee Type Fee
VVBApplication review fee(valid for 36 months)$2,500 per entity/1 scope$4,600 per entity/2 scopes
VVBApplication renewal fee(every 36 months)$1,500 per entity
VVBAnnual accreditation fee(covers 5 auditors)$1,500/1 scope$2,800/2 scopes
VVBAnnual fee per additional lead auditor$500 per person/1 scope
VVBFee per additional training$500 per person

 

If you think your project will benefit from being Gold Standard certified, get started by contacting SustainCERT, the official certification provider for Gold Standard for the Global Goals, to begin the process.