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.

The rule clarification provides guidance on how the positive list shall be applied to demonstrate additionality for different activities—standalone projects, Programme of Activities, and regular or real-case VPAs.

The document clarifies the applicable crediting period, and renewal of certification as mentioned in the methodology: Methane Emission Reduction by adjusted Water management practice in rice cultivation. The rule clarification is applicable to all versions of the methodology.

This rule update revises the application of fNRB values for GS4GG certification, mandating all projects to transition to new eligible estimation methods by mid-2025. Existing fNRB values expire by December 31, 2025, for certified projects and June 30, 2025, for new ones using CDM Tool 30. The update overrides all previous GS4GG fNRB requirements and restricts retroactive value changes for issued GSVERs.

This document outlines the requirements for demonstrating additionality in GS4GG approved methodologies. It aligns with GS4GG Principle 5 - Financial Additionality & Ongoing Financial Need of the GS4GG Principles and Requirements.