CONSULTATIONS

 CONSULTATION 
 

GENDER EQUALITY REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

Updated gender equality requirements to enable simpler, clearer, and credible certification of SDG5 impacts

Empowering women and girls is one of the most effective ways to fight climate change and closing gender gaps will accelerate progress towards many other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 
The gender requirements and guidelines have been simplified and streamlined extensively as part of a scheduled update. The revised version simplifies the requirements and includes further reference sources to help project developers apply the requirements to credibly quantify and verify gender impacts under SDG 5, in a more pragmatic and practical way.

 CONSULTATION 
 

REDUCING METHANE EMISSIONS FROM ENTERIC FERMENTATION IN BEEF CATTLE THROUGH APPLICATION OF FEED SUPPLEMENTS

A new methodology to quantify reduction of enteric methane emissions

Approximately 6% of world’s GHG emissions come from the livestock sector. Ruminant animals produce methane through a process called ‘enteric fermentation’ – when microbes in their digestive systems breakdown food. This means beef cattle tend to have a high carbon footprint. Methane is also produced from the decomposition of animal manures under low oxygen conditions.
 
The aim of this methodology is to quantify the reduction of methane (CH4) emissions from enteric fermentation in beef cattle, as well as impacts on emissions during manure handling. The methodology focuses on the application of feed supplements to reduce enteric methane production in the rumen of livestock. The methodology provides two approaches for quantification of emissions from enteric fermentation.


We are now seeking views and comments on these revisions until 10 March 2023. Please submit feedback directly to Lokesh Dube

 CONSULTATION 
 

METHODOLOGY FOR COLLECTION OF SARGASSUM AND OTHER MACROALGAE TO AVOID EMISSIONS FROM DECOMPOSITION AND TO USE FOR BENEFICIAL PRODUCTS

A new methodology to quantify emission reductions from use of waste macroalgae

This methodology will be applicable to project activities that collect Sargassum or other waste macroalgae species that would otherwise be disposed in a landfill, and processes this macroalgae into useful products. As a result, less waste is put into landfills and fewer methane emissions will take place from the baseline scenario. In addition, the products made from the waste macroalgae may also displace more carbon-intensive products, further reducing GHG emissions.
 
This methodology is intended to apply globally and can use any kind of macroalgae species that meets the definition of waste macroalgae. The macroalgae should be collected on-shore or near-shore and not collected in the open ocean.


We are now seeking views and comments on these revisions until 10 March 2023. Please submit feedback directly to Lokesh Dube

STANDARD DOCUMENTS

 NEW ASSURANCE DOCUMENT 
 

VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION STANDARD 

A new standard to improve consistency and quality of validation and verification processes for Gold Standard projects

Third-party validation and verification provides independent assurance that reported emission reductions and SDG impacts are real and genuine. A new standard document for validation and verification bodies has been created to support more efficient, consistent, and timely project assessments.
 
This new standard document, which provides the minimum requirements and procedures for Gold Standard Validation and Verification Bodies (GS VVBs) and Certification Bodies (CBs) to validate and verify standalone projects and Programmes of Activities (PoAs), that apply Gold Standard for the Global Goals and all earlier versions of the standard.
 
The standard document was open to public consultation until mid-January 2023 and the updated version will be published in the coming month.
 

 NEW METHODOLOGY 
 

LIGHTWEIGHT TWO AND THREE WHEELED PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION

New methodology that quantifies emissions saved through enabling a shift to less energy intensive modes of transport

Enabling a shift to less energy intensive modes of transport in urban environments supports decarbonisation of the transport sector, reduces air pollution and can enable better city living. This methodology applies to project activities that implement infrastructure in urban areas (such as new bicycle lanes, transport sharing programmes, bicycle parking) that support a shift to less energy intensive modes of transport such as mechanical bicycles, tricycles, e-bikes, or e-tricycles.
 
The small-scale methodology builds upon the CDM methodology AMS.III.BM. and has approved by Gold Standard to also include eligibility for new and/or the expansion of existing passenger transportation services based on tricycles and e-scooters.

 NEW METHODOLOGY 
 

METHANE EMISSION REDUCTION BY ADJUSTED WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICE IN RICE CULTIVATION

A new methodology to quantify emissions saved from changing the practice for rice cultivation (available in the coming months)

Traditional rice cultivation practices are both water intensive and can emit significant quantities of methane into the atmosphere. By implementing activities such as changing the water regime during the cultivation period to intermittent or shortened flooding, applying alternate wetting and drying methods, or changing the rice cultivation practice from transplanted to direct seeded rice (DSR), projects can significantly reduce the amount of methane released into the atmosphere.
 
This approved small-scale CDM methodology (AMS.III.AU) applies to project activities that reduce the anaerobic decomposition of organic matter in rice cropping soils. It has been revised by Gold Standard to include the latest IPCC findings and to reflect research-based developments for emission and scaling factors. This new methodology will be published in the coming months.

 METHODOLOGY TOOL UPDATE  
 

ELIGIBLE METHODOLOGIES FOR GOLD STANDARD

This downloadable document has been updated to include all Gold Standard methodologies and eligible CDM Methodologies, providing project practitioners with a tool to assess which methodology to apply to their project activity.

 RULE UPDATE  
 

COVID-19 INTERIM MEASURES  

New guidelines to provide use case examples to help project developers successfully complete design documents for PoAs and VPAs
 
Following the last update to the COVID-19 Interim Measures rules published in June 2022, the impact of the pandemic on projects has further decreased and therefore Gold Standard has took the decision to not extend the rule beyond 31/12/22. 
 
Deviations already approved before this date will still apply. After this date, the project developer shall demonstrate compliance with GS4GG requirements and/or registered monitoring plan for any kind of submission for certification. 
 
Any queries on the potential impact on deviations already approved for projects under these interim measures can be sent to covid19@goldstandard.org
 

GENERAL UPDATE

 UPDATE  
 

QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER FOR VVBS

The Gold Standard Assurance Team has created a new quarterly Validation and Verification Body Newsletter. Created to keep the VVB community regularly informed on all relevant developments such as requirement and standard updates, training and job opportunities, and more. 
 
The first edition can be viewed online. Should you wish to be added to the subscription list, please email Martha Djourdjin and let her know.