Frequently asked questions
You can find frequently asked questions regarding our standard and certification process in our FAQs
Glossary
| Term | Definition | Acronym |
|---|---|---|
| May | Indicates an option | |
| Shall | Indicates a Requirement. | |
| Should | Indicates a recommendation. | |
| Accredited | Allowed by an accreditation body (such as UNFCCC) to serve as a Validation/Verification Body under certain scopes. | |
| Active Crediting Period | The period during which a GS4GG certified activity is eligible to generate and seek issuance of Gold Standard Certified Products or Impact Statements. This comprises the first crediting period following Design Certification, or any subsequent crediting period that has been successfully renewed through the Design Certification Renewal process. Only emission reductions, removals and SDG impacts achieved during an active crediting period may result in issuance. | |
| Additionality | The principle that a proposed mitigation activity delivers climate benefits that would not have occurred in the absence of incentives provided by the carbon finance mechanism, taking into account all relevant national policies and legislation. A proposed mitigation activity is additional if the activity: (a) Represents mitigation that exceeds any mitigation that is required by law or regulation; (b) Avoids locking in levels of emissions, technologies or carbon intensive practices that are incompatible with Lock-in Risk Analysis Tool; and (c) Would not have occurred in the absence of incentives from the mechanism, taking into account all relevant national policies, including legislation. | |
| Affected Stakeholder | Any stakeholder affected physically, socially or economically by the implementation of the Project activity. Note that affected stakeholders may be outside the Project Area and in some cases be a distance beyond the Project Boundary. | |
| Annual Report | A transparent, yearly updated document submitted to Gold Standard to share progress, key updates and confirm that the project is active. The annual reports are required for each monitoring year for which verification is not completed by the end of the following calendar year. | |
| Approved | The definition is only applicable in context of VVB functions: – of a VVB: allowed by Gold Standard to conduct audits against GS4GG requirements for a specific duration and a specific scope of audits. – of an auditor: allowed by Gold Standard to represent GS4GG requirements competence within an audit team of a GS-approved VVB, for a specific scope of audits. | |
| Approval by a host Party | Approval by a host Party means the approval to register a proposed activity or PoA to be implemented within the geographical boundaries of the host Party. | |
| Assessment | The combined process of audit, review and decision on a conformity within the requirements of a standard (part of Validation or Verification e.g. a Validation Assessment). | |
| Assurance | Independent, evidence‑based set of validation, verification and review activities, performed mainly by accredited VVBs and overseen by Gold Standard, to confirm that projects comply with all applicable GS4GG requirements and methodologies, thereby supporting credible certification and issuance of credits. | |
| Audit | Systematic, documented process for obtaining records, statements of facts and information and assessing them objectively to determine the extent to which specified requirements are fulfilled. | |
| Audit Team | One or more auditors conducting an assessment and together have all competences including team leader competences required for the assessment. An audit team may consist of only one person if they nontheless have the required competences. | |
| Auditor | Person who carries out the audit. | |
| Authorisation of emission reduction/removal | A statement provided by the host Party specifying whether it authorises ERs issued or to be issued for a carbon activity for use towards achievement of NDCs and/or for other international mitigation purposes. | |
| Authorised emission reductions/removal | Refers to ERs that are authorised by the host Party for which the ERs are issued, for use towards the achievement of NDCs and/or for other international mitigation purposes. | |
| Averted Disability Adjusted Life Year | A measure of mortality and morbidity used to demonstrate project impact on SDG 3. The quantification and certification of ADALYs is undertaken via the use of a GS-Methodology. | ADALY |
| Avoidable Reversals | Reversals caused by factors over which the project developer/CME have influence or control. | |
| Barrier Analysis | Demonstration that an activity would be prevented by barriers and that the incentives from the mechanism make the determining difference for overcoming the barriers. | |
| Baseline emissions | The GHG emissions that would occur in the baseline scenario. | |
| Baseline Scenario | The scenario for the project activity or VPA that reasonably represents the anthropogenic emissions by sources of GHGs or status of various SDGs that would occur in the absence of the GS project activity or VPA. | |
| Best Available Technology | The practice or technology in a given scope (e.g., sector and baseline geographical area) that: (a) Provides a similar output as the activity; (b) Represents an economically feasible and environmentally sound course of action; (c) Is available in the baseline geographical area, meaning accessible off the shelf, or via a tendering or direct contracting process, or by direct implementation by an end user within the boundary of potential activities; and (d) Results in the lowest emissions or largest removals per unit of output among all practices and/or technologies Refer to requirements for baseline determination in applicable PA-aligned methodology for details. | BAT |
| Best performing comparable activities | The activities that provide outputs within a top segment of performance in terms of GHG emissions or removals per unit of output, considering all activities that provide similar outputs in a baseline geographical reference area. Refer to requirements for baseline determination in applicable PA-aligned methodology for details. | |
| Business-as-usual | Plausible reference benchmark or scenario for GHG emissions or removals prior to or in the absence of the implementation of the proposed activity. It may be at a scenario, emission or removal level, or an emissions or removals intensity. | BAU |
| Carbon Dioxide Removal | Anthropogenic activities which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and durably store it in geological, terrestrial, or ocean reservoirs, or in products. Activities involving removals may claim products such as GS-VERs if they fulfill the GS4GG requirements. | CDR |
| Carbon Performance | The effectiveness of a project in maintaining or increasing carbon storage over time relative to issued emission reduction credits. It ensures alignment between actual carbon stocks and expected levels indicated by PERs and GSVERs, requiring reporting of incidents affecting compliance and implementation of strategies to address performance shortfalls, such as retiring credits or purchasing additional offsets. | |
| Carbon sequestration | Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide. It is one method of reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the goal of reducing global climate change. Sequestration can be biological or geological. | |
| Carbon sinks | Carbon reservoirs and conditions that take-in and store more carbon (i.e., carbon sequestration) than they release. Carbon sinks can serve to partially offset greenhouse gas emissions. Forests and oceans are large carbon sinks. | |
| CDM Executive Board | Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism. | CDM EB |
| CDM Programme of Activity Design Document | Design document for a CDM PoA. | CDM PoA-DD |
| Central office of a VVB | An office of the VVB, where the top management for the validation and verification/certification functions is mainly located, as specified by the VVB. | |
| Certification | The written assurance confirmation/communication that fulfilment of specified requirements has been demonstrated. | |
| Clarification request | It is a type of finding raised by the VVB or GS reviewers during an audit or review, respectively, when the information provided is insufficient or unclear to determine whether the applicable GS4GG requirements and procedures have been met. In order to achieve certification all CLs shall be closed. Note: The clarification request, as submitted by the stakeholders to Gold Standard, using Clarification Request Form, is different. Such a clarification request is where stakeholders seek clarity from GS on any specific topic. | CL |
| Common practice analysis | Demonstration that the relevant technology or practice is not common practice (e.g., it has a low market penetration). | |
| Community Service Activity | A Project type that entails provision of services to a community. The Requirements for CSA are included in the Gold Standard Community Services Activity Requirements. | CSA |
| Competence | Ability to apply knowledge and skills in GS4GG audit with a view of achieving intended results. | |
| Competence for Validation and Verification | Ability to apply knowledge and skills in order to perform the validation or verification/certification in accordance with GS4GG rules and requirements. | |
| Complaints | Formal (written) and/or informal (verbal) expressions of dissatisfaction regarding the performance of an assurance provider in relation to its Gold Standard function(s), from any source, such as the client, the general public or its representatives, government bodies, NGOs, etc. A complaint can also be about GS4GG projects. | |
| Completeness Check | The process undertaken by the secretariat to confirm that all information and documents that are required to be submitted by project developer/CME, or VVB as applicable, have been submitted and that the submitted documents are complete and in accordance with the GS4GG rules and requirements. | |
| Compliance Buffer | A reserve pool into which a portion of issued Gold Standard Certified Products from eligible project activities is contributed, as a safeguard against the risk of reversal or underperformance. Credits held in the compliance buffer are not available for retirement or transfer until released in accordance with GS4GG requirements. The applicable contribution rate and eligibility criteria are defined in the relevant Product Requirements and methodology. | |
| Component Project Activity (Ref: CDM) | A CDM project activity under a programme of activities. A CPA is a single, or a set of interrelated measure(s), to reduce GHG emissions or result in net anthropogenic greenhouse gas removals by sinks, applied within a designated area defined in the baseline methodology. | CPA |
| Conformity | Conformity is defined as the fulfillment of a requirement. | |
| Conformity Criteria | A checklist and associated guidance for GS-VVBs for the Validation or Verification to ensure compliance with GS4GG requirements. | |
| Coordinating and Managing Entitiy | Entity that communicates with the Gold Standard on all matters related to a PoA and associated activities, as nominated in the cover letters to be submitted for each one of the activities. | CME |
| Corrective Action Request | A Corrective Action request is a type of finding which is raised by an auditing VVB or GS reviewers in an event where there is an established non-conformity with the GS4GG standard document. In order to achieve certification all CARs shall be closed. | CAR |
| Corresponding Adjustments | A corresponding adjustment is a mechanism to avoid double counting when countries trade carbon credits between each other under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. When a corresponding adjustment is made, this means when countries have traded an emissions reduction activity internationally to count towards another country’s climate pledge, or NDC, the country that has agreed to transfer it will un-count the reduction from their own NDC. | CA |
| Crediting baseline | The reference emissions or removals level against which the volume of emission reductions or net removals achieved by the activity is quantified. | |
| Crediting Period | The period in which verified and certified GHG emission reductions/removals and SDG impact attributable to a GS project activity or VPA, as applicable, can result in the issuance of VERs or other Gold Standard Certified Products. | CP |
| Crediting period start date | The first date on which verified and certified GHG emission reductions or net GHG removals attributable to a project or VPA may result in the issuance of GS-VERs. | |
| Critical habitats | Areas with high biodiversity importance, covering: (i) habitats of significant importance to critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near-threatened species, listed as such in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species; (ii) habitats of significant importance to endemic and/or restricted-range species; (iii) habitats supporting globally significant concentrations of migratory species and/or congregatory species; (iv) highly threatened and/or unique ecosystems; (v) areas associated with key evolutionary processes; and/or (vi) legally protected areas or internationally recognized areas of high biodiversity value, which may include reserves that meet the criteria of the IUCN protected area management categories I through VI; World Heritage Sites; areas protected under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands; core areas of world biosphere reserves; or areas in the United Nations List of National Parks and Protected Areas; sites listed in the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas; or other sites meeting the criteria of the IUCN 2016 Global Standard for the Identification of Key Biodiversity Areas. | |
| Critical resources | Natural or structural resources essential for achieving broader climate mitigation and sustainable development goals. Depending on the sector, these shall include, but are not limited to: arable land for food security, local freshwater availability, sustainable biomass supply, and renewable energy grid capacity. | |
| Cultural heritage | Includes artefacts, monuments, a group of buildings and sites, museums that have a diversity of values including symbolic, historic, artistic, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological, scientific and social significance. It includes tangible heritage (movable, immobile and underwater), intangible cultural heritage (ICH) embedded into cultural, and natural heritage artefacts, sites or monuments. The definition excludes ICH related to other cultural domains such as festivals, celebration etc. It covers industrial heritage and cave paintings. | |
| Customary rights | Customary rights are those that result from a long series of habitual or customary actions, constantly repeated, which have, by such repetition and by uninterrupted acquiescence, acquired the force of a law within a geographical or sociological unit. | |
| Deferred issuance | A certification status in which issuance of Gold Standard Certified Products is postponed pending the availability or application of the relevant PA-aligned methodology, after which issuance may proceed upon satisfying the applicable requirements. | |
| Design Certification | A key milestone in the Gold Standard Project Cycle, indicating that a project has successfully undergone Validation and Design Review. This phase ensures that the project’s design and planning meet the requirements set forth by the Gold Standard for the Global Goals, including considerations of safeguarding principles, stakeholder consultation, and alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Projects achieving Design Certification are eligible to proceed to the Verification/Performance Certification stage. | |
| Design Certification Renewal | Design Certification Renewal is the process by which a project maintains its Gold Standard Certified Project status beyond the initial five-year certification period. Projects must undergo Design Certification Renewal to continue seeking Gold Standard Certified Products and Impact Statements. This renewal process involves updating project information and baseline assessments, demonstrating ongoing financial need, and ensuring compliance with any changes in Gold Standard Requirements or methodologies. | |
| Designated National Authority | An organisation granted responsibility by a Party to authorise and approve participation in CDM projects. | DNA |
| Deviation request | A Deviation Request refers to an actual or proposed change to a project in relation to the applicable standard requirements or applied methodology. | |
| Digital MRV | The application of digital technologies — such as remote sensing, satellite imagery, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and automated data platforms — to measure, report and verify the GHG emission reductions, removals and SDG impacts of a project activity. Digital MRV tools may be used to supplement or, where permitted under the applicable GS-Approved Methodology, replace traditional field-based monitoring, provided they meet GS4GG requirements for accuracy, transparency and auditability. | dMRV |
| Disputes | Disagreement between an assurance provider and the client regarding the assurance provider’s recommendation and/or opinions/decisions made at various stages during the audit. | |
| Double counting | Double counting occurs when the same environmental or social benefit are claimed or counted multiple times by different projects or programs. It can occur in three ways : Double Issuance : Double issuance occurs when more than one emission reduction/removal unit is issued for the same emissions reductions or removals (for example when a project is registered under two different standards, programs, or schemes or twice under the same standard, program, or scheme) Double Use : Double use occurs when the same issued emissions unit is counted twice towards achieving climate change mitigation targets or pledges (for example when a unit is used twice by the same buyer towards claims in different calendar years, or retired once on the Impact Registry but then used by two separate entities towards their distinct and individual mitigation claims) Double Claiming: Double claiming occurs when the same emission reduction or removal is claimed by both (i) an emitting entity that reports lower emission levels to demonstrate achievement of mitigation targets or pledges and (ii) by another entity that uses the same emission units resulting from the same emission reduction to achieving its own mitigation targets or pledges. | |
| Downward Adjustment Factor | A numerical coefficient applied to crediting baselines to ensure the encouragement of ambition by setting crediting baselines below Business-As-Usual (BAU) levels and increasing the ambition of crediting baselines over time. For details, refer to baseline setting requirements of the applicable PA-aligned methodology. | DAF |
| Economic displacement | Loss of land, assets, or access to assets, leading to loss of income sources or other means of livelihood. | |
| Eligibility principles | The overarching rationale and purpose for the GS4GG Requirements as related to achieving the Gold Standard Vision and Mission. | |
| Emission reduction | A decrease in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions achieved by a project activity relative to the baseline scenario, after accounting for any leakage. Emission reductions are calculated as the difference between baseline emissions and project scenario emissions, net of leakage, and are expressed in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e). Only emission reductions that are real, measurable, additional and verified in accordance with GS4GG requirements are eligible for issuance as Gold Standard Certified Products. Also refer to “removals” definition. | |
| Emissions | The release of GHGs and/or their precursors into the atmosphere over a specified area and period of time. | |
| Environmental and Social Impact Assessment | A systematic process used to identify, predict, and mitigate a project’s potential environmental and social risks before implementation. | ESIA |
| Environmentally sound technology or practice | A technology and/or practice that is in line with laws and regulations on environmental protection in the applicable geographical area and seeks to reasonably minimise environmental harm. | |
| Equivalent | Aggregated or equivalent units of measurement. | |
| Ex-ante | Based on forecasts rather than actual results. Within the context of GS4GG, ex-ante refers to estimated impacts and mitigation impacts of project activity before it has been implemented. | |
| Expert stakeholders | Expert Stakeholders are individuals that hold specific expertise or knowledge about the organisation, process, or activity being audited and/or about the context and practices to which the project is applied. | |
| Financial additionality | The situation where the project activity could not have been implemented without revenue from carbon finance. | |
| Forced labour | Any work or service not voluntarily performed and exacted from an individual under threat of force or penalty. | |
| Forward Action Request | It is a type of finding raised by the VVB or GS reviewers for issues that require review during a future certification process. For example during validation, FAR can be raised regarding implementation status of the activity, establishing the technical specifications of the equipment installed, demonstrating compliance with relevant monitoring/measurement requirements etc.) to be checked by the verifying VVB during first verification. | FAR |
| Free, Prior, and Informed Consent | A specific right of Indigenous Peoples recognised in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples that allows Indigenous Peoples to engage in negotiations to shape the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of an activity. | FPIC |
| Genetically Modified Organism | An organism in which the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. (Source: FSC). | GMO |
| Geographical boundary of a project | The physical delineation or geographical area that encompasses all sources and sinks under the control of the project developer/CME, which are significant and reasonably attributable to the project in accordance with the applied methodologies and, where applicable, the applied standardised baselines. | |
| Geographical boundary(ies) of a PoA/ PoA Boundary | Encompasses the municipality, region within a country or several countries within which all the VPAs that are included in the PoA are implemented. | |
| Giga-tonne | Unit of measurement (e.g. 1 Gt) | Gt |
| Global Warming Potential | The index used to translate the level of emissions of various gases into a common measure in order to compare the relative radiative forcing of different gases without directly calculating the changes in atmospheric concentrations. GWPs are calculated as the ratio of the radiative forcing that would result from the emissions of one kilogram of a greenhouse gas to that from the emission of one kilogram of carbon dioxide over a period of time (usually 100 years). | GWP |
| Gold Standard Accreditation Approval | Formal recognition an VVB’s institutional capacity and competence to be eligible to carry out the GS audit in accordance with the standard requirements. | |
| Gold Standard Approved Methodology or Impact Quantification Methodology | A methodology developed and approved under GS4GG that sets out the specific requirements, procedures and parameters for a given project activity type, covering the determination of the baseline scenario, demonstration of additionality, quantification of GHG emission reductions or removals, monitoring and reporting of SDG impacts, and any applicable safeguarding requirements. Successful application of a GS-Approved Methodology, subject to Validation and Performance Certification, may lead to the issuance of Gold Standard Certified Products or Impact Statements. | |
| Gold Standard Certified Emissions Reduction | A carbon credit, issued by UNFCCC CDM for use in the compliance carbon markets. A Gold Standard labelled CER is known as a GSCER. | CER / GSCER |
| Gold Standard Certified Products | Products are a type of Gold Standard Certified SDG Impact that are issued by Gold Standard upon the successful Performance Certification under a given GS Approved Methodology and Product Requirements. Examples include GSVERs Labels. | |
| Gold Standard Certified Project | A Project activity that has successfully completed Design Certification and completed at least one Performance Certification successfully. | |
| Gold Standard Foundation | The owner and operator of Gold Standard for the Global Goals. Gold Standard is a Swiss-based non-profit whose vision focuses on Integrity in Climate Action. Impact for People and Nature. www.goldstandard.org | GS |
| Gold Standard Label | A Gold Standard Label is a type of Product that is issued to a project developer/CME but relates to the application of Gold Standard certification to a product issued by a third party. For example the application of Gold Standard Label to CDM issued CERs. | |
| Gold Standard NGO Supporters | Gold Standard was founded by a group of NGOs and continues to represent the interests of civil society in all our work. NGO Supporters can take an active role in the project development process, providing constructive feedback and offering their expertise. This lends further credibility to our local sustainable development initiatives. Every NGO that supports Gold Standard helps strengthen the collective statement that carbon markets should foster transparency, environmental rigor and sustainable development. http://www.goldstandard.org/our-story/who-we-are | |
| Gold Standard Planned Emission Reductions | Product issued by Gold Standard. PERs represent expected reductions in GHG emissions from land use and forest management projects. PERs are converted to VERs once verified. | GS-PER |
| Gold Standard Technical Advisory Committee | The TAC is a body of independent technical experts, selected by their peers and appointed by Secretariat. TAC provides transparent, credible and timely expert advice, strategic input and decision making to Gold Standard to ensure credibility, environmental integrity and a positive impact on sustainable development for Gold Standard certified project activities. | GS-TAC |
| Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions | Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions are carbon credits issued by the Gold Standard to projects that have successfully reduced or removed greenhouse gas emissions in a sustainable and verifiable manner. | GS-VER |
| Governance and Management System | System of governance and management applied by a project (see Gold Standard for Sustainable Urban Development). | GMS |
| Greenhouse Gas | A gaseous constituent of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorbs and re-emits infrared radiation, thereby trapping heat and contributes to the greenhouse effect. The primary greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and ozone (O₃), along with fluorinated gases. Within GS4GG, GHG emissions and removals are quantified in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) using Global Warming Potential (GWP) values. | GHG |
| Grievance mechanism | A formal procedure established by the project developer/CME for the project to gather and address complaints, disputes, or concerns raised by stakeholders regarding project activities’ impacts. For more details refer to “Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement Requirements”. | |
| GS certified impact statements | A Certified Impact Statement issued by Gold Standard upon the successful certification under a given GS Approved Methodology. These may come in a number of forms. Gold Standard recognises that typically the monitoring parameters included in GS-Approved Methodologies relate to Outcomes rather than Impacts. The use of the term Impact Statement reflects that these Outcomes may be used as a way of communicating the progress towards the impact sought and is specific of impact investment approaches. | |
| GS certified SDG impacts | Gold Standard certified SDG impacts are achieved by following GS-Approved Methodologies and successfully undergoing Performance Certification. They may be in the form of Gold Standard Certified Products or SDG Impact Statements, issued upon successful completion of Performance Certification. | |
| GS Registry or Impact Registry | Impact Registry tracks the certification status of climate projects engaged in the Gold Standard certification process. It offers a comprehensive public view of their progress and provides access to essential project documentation, empowering stakeholders with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions. The registry is where products for Gold Standard projects, such as carbon credits, are issued, held, transferred, and retired, providing transparency and credibility. It can be considered the ‘source of truth’ for information related to Gold Standard products, with unique serial numbers generated for every issued credit, allowing full traceability through the lifecycle of the credit from generation to sale, and eventual use or ‘retirement’. It also showcases the certified Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) impacts. By highlighting these tangible outcomes, we demonstrate the real-world contributions of Gold Standard-certified projects. | |
| GS Secretariat | The Gold Standard secretariat manages the operational activities of Gold Standard including capacity building, marketing & communications, certification, registration and issuance as well as the maintenance of The Gold Standard rules and procedures. | |
| GS-approved auditor | An individual approved by the Gold Standard to conduct validation and verification activities for projects seeking GS4GG certification. Auditors are responsible for assessing project information in line with the Validation and Verification Standard. | |
| High Conservation Value | A biological, ecological, social, or cultural value of outstanding significance or critical importance. | HCV |
| Host Country | The country in which the activity is implemented. | |
| Implementation date | The date at which the main activities envisaged by the Project begin operation. For example: the first users begin using distributed technology, the commencement of energy generation by an installed device, the planting of trees, the commencement of altered working practices. Note that test or pilot activities do not constitute Implementation. | |
| Interested stakeholder | Any stakeholder who is interested in the Project or its outcomes. They do not have to be local or affected. | |
| International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labeling Alliance | It is a global membership organisation that defines credible practice for sustainability standards, driving positive impact for people and the planet. (www.isealalliance.org) | ISEAL Alliance |
| International Union for the Conservation of Nature | www.iucn.org | IUCN |
| Investment analysis | Demonstration that the activity becomes viable with revenue from GSVERs. | |
| ISO | International Standards Organisation (www.iso.org ) | ISO |
| Issuance | The issue by Gold Standard of a Gold Standard Certified Impact Statement or Product (such as a GSVER). These are issued by Gold Standard following the successful completion of Performance Certification. | |
| Key Project Information | Information that captures high level project details in the early stages of development. The Key Project Information is used to support Eligibility Check. | |
| kilowatt | Unit of measurement | kW |
| Knowledge | The theoretical and/or practical understanding of a subject. | |
| Landlocked Least Developed Country | Nations lacking sea access, facing severe structural, geographical, and economic disadvantages that hinder development. | LLDC |
| Leakage | Changes in anthropogenic emissions and/or removals of GHGs that occur outside the activity boundary and that are attributable to the activity, including those resulting from changes in market demand or supply for associated outputs. Leakage may involve the following sub-forms: (a) Positive leakage: Leakage where the implementation of an activity results in a decrease in emissions and/or an increase in removals outside the activity boundary; (b) Negative leakage: Leakage where the implementation of an activity results in an increase in emissions and/or a decrease in removals outside the activity boundary. | |
| Least Developed Country | A country identified by the United Nations as meeting the criteria for LDC status. | LDC |
| Legal requirements | Laws, statutes, regulations, court orders, decrees, consent agreements, executive orders, permitting conditions or any other legally binding mandates applicable to project under consideration, noting that regulatory environments may vary. | |
| Letter of Authorisation | A letter from the host country giving permission to use the emissions reductions and removals for specific purposes under the Paris Agreement to the designated project. | LoA |
| Level of service | The quality, reliability and scale of an output provided by an activity and/or in the baseline scenario. | |
| Level of service for meeting basic human needs | The threshold below which an individual is considered to face deprivation of basic human needs. | |
| Listed | ‘Listed’ is a Certification status that an activity may achieve through successful completion of the Preliminary Review. | |
| Local stakeholder | Stakeholders that reside or work within or in close proximity to the project area. | |
| Lock-in risk | The risk that implementing an activity would result in the adoption, or prolonged use, of technologies, practices, or resource allocations that are incompatible with the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and the host country’s Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS). | |
| Lowest GHG Intensity / Optimal Net Removal Efficiency | A metric used specifically within the lock-in risk analysis to determine whether a project activity risks locking in technologies, practices or emission levels that are incompatible with long-term Paris Agreement goals. It is not a general measure of climate performance. The metric is expressed differently depending on the activity type. Refer to the latest applicable version of Lock-in analysis tool available on GS4GG website for more details on this. | |
| Materiality | An auditing concept to be applied by VVBs in verifications in order to detect errors, omissions or misstatements in emission reductions and/or net removals being claimed by project developer/CME in monitoring reports. | |
| MegaWatt (Electrical) | Unit of measurement | MWel |
| MegaWatt (Thermal) | Unit of measurement | MWth |
| MegaWatt Hour | Unit of measurement | MWh |
| Methodology Developement Process | The methodology development, approval, and clarification procedure primarily defines the process for approving new methodologies, revising/updating methodologies, creating new methodological tools, revising/updating existing methodological tools, and providing clarifications on approved methodologies and tools under the GS4GG. | |
| Methodology Developer | An individual or entity responsible for conceptualising, designing, and presenting new or revised methodologies and tools. They are the focal point of contact with the secretariat during the methodology development process. | |
| Monitoring and Reporting Plan /Monitoring Plan | The plan which sets out the methodology to be used by project developers or CMEs for the monitoring of, and by VVBs for verification of, the amount of GHG emission reductions/removals and SDG impact achieved by a GS project activity or VPA, as applicable. | |
| Monitoring Period | The period of time that a Monitoring Report covers and for which Verification and ultimately Certification is sought. | MP |
| Monitoring Report | A report prepared by a project developer/CME which sets out the GHG emission reductions or removals and SDG impacts of an implemented design certified GS project activity or VPA for a particular monitoring period. | MR |
| Monitoring, Reporting & Verification | System of collecting information, reporting and verifying that underpins Gold Standard for the Global Goals Principle 4 (Demonstration of Real Outcomes). | MRV |
| Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action | NAMAs refer to any action that reduces emissions in developing countries and is prepared under the umbrella of a national governmental initiative. They can be policies directed at transformational change within an economic sector, or actions across sectors for a broader national focus. NAMAs are supported and enabled by technology, financing, and capacity-building and are aimed at achieving a reduction in emissions relative to ‘business as usual’ emissions in 2020. | NAMA |
| Nationally Determined Contribution | According to Article 4 paragraph 2 of the Paris Agreement, each Party shall prepare, communicate and maintain successive nationally determined contributions that it intends to achieve. Parties shall pursue domestic mitigation measures, with the aim of achieving the objectives of such contributions. | NDC |
| Negligible risk of reversal | A risk of reversal that would result in a loss of no more than a maximum percentage to be specified in mechanism methodologies on the basis of guidance to be developed in the reversal risk assessment tool of all the ERs issued with respect to the total emission reductions and/or net removals achieved by the activity during its active crediting period, calculated over a 100-year timeframe starting from no earlier than the end of the last active crediting period. | |
| Non-compliance | Failure by a project, programme, entity, or participant to comply with applicable requirements, obligations, laws, regulations, contractual conditions, or provisions of a standard or certification framework. | |
| Non-Conformity | A failure to fulfil a specified requirement of the applicable standard, methodology, procedure, legal requirement, or other governing document. A non-conformity may arise from an omission, incorrect implementation, insufficient evidence, or deviation from prescribed requirements. | NC |
| Objective Observer | An objective observer refers to an individual or entity appointed by the project developer/CME to conduct on-site validation or verification of projects, in challenging areas such as conflict zones, refugee camps, or high-risk regions. This is in conjunction with a desk review performed by VVBs. This approach is permitted under Gold Standard rules to address the difficulties project developer/CMEs encounter when contracting VVBs in such challenging locations. | OO |
| Observation | With an OB, the VVB or The Gold Standard Secretariat provides an observation on possible future non-compliance with a requirement. Unlike CARs and FARs, observations are suggestions or warnings and do not need necessarily to be formally corrected. They are given special attention during the next certification. | OB |
| Observed event | An observed event involving the release of stored GHGs that could potentially lead to a reversal. | |
| Official Developement Assistance | All Project Developers/CME applying for project activities located in a country named by the OECD Development Assistance Committee’s ODA recipient list and seeking Gold Standard Certification for carbon credits shall declare the Official Development Assistance support. The Project Developer/CME shall follow the GHG Emissions Reduction & Sequestration Product Requirements and submit the declaration at the time of Design Certification. | ODA |
| Ongoing Financial Need | The continued dependence of a project or programme on carbon revenue, to maintain operations, achieve intended outcomes, or remain financially viable throughout its implementation period. It is assessed at the time of design certification renewal in line with the methodological requirements. | OFN |
| Operational lifetime | The expected period during which a technology, equipment, or specific management practice will be actively operated or economically viable. Note: Operational lifetime is typically shorter than technical lifetime due to economic considerations, regulatory shifts, or contract length. Sector Note for Practice-Based Activities (e.g., Agriculture, AFOLU, Removals): For mitigation activities relying on management practices rather than fixed infrastructure, the operational lifetime is defined strictly by the continuous duration of the committed activity, physical intervention, or active management contract. The lifetime of the practice takes strict precedence over the physical lifespan of any underlying machinery or tools used to implement it. This shall also not be confused with the biological permanence period of the sequestered carbon. Where long-term management contracts (>10 years) do not strictly specify technological parameters regarding GHG emissions, the contract should include provisions for the periodic review and adoption of Best Available Practices. | |
| Outsourced entities | Entities to which the DOE outsources some of the validation or verification/certification functions. | |
| Outstanding Deficit | If the application of the updated methodology results in a quantified emission reduction volume that is lower than the volume originally issued (referred to as a “Deficit”), the Project Developer/CME must cancel unretired credits from their registry account for the relevant period to cover the shortfall. If that is not enough, any remaining deficit is carried forward and deducted from future credit issuances. It is used in the context of CCP labelling. Refer to the CCP Labelling Requirements for more details. | |
| Paris Agreement | The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change adopted by 195 nations in December 2015. Its primary goal is to limit global warming, while also providing financial support for vulnerable countries. | PA |
| Paris Agreement aligned methodologies | Paris Agreement (PA) aligned methodologies are updated, mandatory carbon-crediting standards designed to ensure projects contribute to net-zero goals, with Gold Standard requiring compliance for all projects with 2026 or later vintages. These methodologies enforce rigorous baselines below business-as-usual levels, focusing on long-term sustainable development, and strict adherence to NDC pathways. | PA-aligned methodology(ies) |
| Path Dependency | Existing local constraints—such as a lack of national grid infrastructure, missing supply chains, or strict socio-economic conditions—that realistically limit the types of alternative technologies or practices an activity developer can implement in a given region. The term is speficially used in lock-in risk analysis. Refer to latest available tool for Lock-in Risk Analysis on GS4GG website. | |
| Performance Certification | An independent review conducted by the Gold Standard Secretariat, the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and NGO Supporters of the Monitoring Report and Verification Opinion submitted by the project developer/CME and GS-approved VVB respectively, for a given monitoring period. The Performance Review assesses whether the project’s reported GHG emission reductions or removals and SDG impacts are credible, consistent with GS4GG requirements, and supported by the evidence provided. The outcome of a Performance Review is either approval, or the raising of findings that must be resolved before Performance Certification can proceed. | |
| Performance Shortfall Scenario | If the project fails to maintain compliance with Carbon Performance guidelines listed in GHG Emission Reductions and Sequestration Product Requirements, it enters a performance shortfall scenario. In this scenario, the project developer/CME must follow the Performance Shortfall Guidelines and demonstrate to the Gold Standard how the project will address the shortfall and restore appropriate levels of carbon stocks. | |
| Performance-based approach | Demonstration that a project activity is unlikely to be implemented without the incentives from the mechanism if it outperforms other activities in one or several indicator(s) (e.g., an emissions benchmark) that are a good proxy for the likelihood of additionality for the relevant technology or practice. | |
| PoA period start date | The earliest date between the expected start date of the PoA period indicated in the prior consideration notification form and the first day of the global stakeholder consultation. | |
| Preliminary Review | Review conducted once at the outset (i.e. at an early stage of project design and before Listing on the GS Registry) of a Project. Part of the certification cycle where Gold Standard assesses the project information in order to check whether an activity and approach is likely to be eligible for Gold Standard Certification. This procedure, if successful, leads to Listed status. The requirements for the Project Design Documentation to be submitted at this stage are detailed in the latest version of GS4GG Principles & Requirements. | PR |
| Preventative Action | Action to prevent the occurrence of non-conformity(ies) or improve the effectiveness of its function. | |
| Product Requirements | The rules and requirements applicable to a particular Gold Standard Product, for example VERs. | |
| Programme of Activity | A Programme of Activity is a set of related activities with a common objective. PoAs enable replicable projects access to carbon finance through coordinated implementation. | PoA |
| Project Activity/mitigation activity/activity | A project activity refers to a specific action or initiative implemented within a project that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance carbon sequestration, or promote sustainable development outcomes. | |
| Project Boundary | The clearly defined physical boundary or edges of the project that delineate the Project Area from non-Project Areas. | |
| Project Design Document | A document prepared by the project developer/CME outlining the details of the project according to the requirements specified by GS4GG. The template for the PDD is available on the GS4GG website. | PDD |
| Project Developer | A private and/or public entity that is responsible for fulfilling the certification requirements of GS4GG. The Project Developer shall be one individual or entity only. | PD |
| Project Documentation | Umbrella term for all project design and monitoring documentation that demonstrates in detail how the Requirements are met. This can include Gold Standard Templates such as Project Design Documents and Monitoring Reports as well as Supporting Documents such as charts, maps or spreadsheets. | |
| Project or VPA start date | The date on which project developer/CMEs commit to making expenditures for constructing or modifying the main equipment or facility (e.g., a wind turbine), or for providing or modifying a service (e.g., distribution of energy-efficient light bulbs, change of transport management system) under a proposed project or VPA. If a contract for such expenditures (e.g., for procurement of a wind turbine) is signed, the start date is the date on which the contract is signed. In other cases, it is the date on which such expenditures are incurred. If the proposed project or VPA involves more than one of such contracts or incurred expenditures, the start date is the earliest of the respective dates. Activities incurring minor pre-project expenses (e.g., feasibility studies, preliminary surveys) are not considered in the determination of the start date. | |
| Project Representative | Refers to the person or entity that will serve as the focal point for the project. This representative will have sole or joint authority to communicate with the Gold Standard Secretariat regarding all matters related to a project’s certification, alteration or expansion. The project representative can be more than one individual or entity. | |
| Project Scenario | A state that will ensue once the project has been executed and is operational. It encompasses a specific array of technologies, measures, or outcomes outlined in a GS methodology applied to the project. These elements modify the conditions identified in the baseline scenario, ultimately resulting in reductions or removals of greenhouse gas emissions. | |
| Project | Intervention or activity being implemented for which Gold Standard for Global Goals (GS4GG) Certification is sought. It encompasses various types of interventions aimed at achieving sustainable development goals. It is often used as a combined term referring to a project activity, voluntary project activity (VPA) and a Programme of Activity (PoA) | |
| Real Case VPA | An actual activity implemented/proposed to be implemented under a PoA that sets out a specific regulatory and design framework to be followed by similar regular VPAs. It is distinguished with other real case VPAs based on aspects like; technology/measure types, host country, end user type etc. | |
| Rebound effect | An increase in the level of service as a result of the implementation of an Article 6.4 activity, e.g., when introducing energy-efficient appliances. | |
| Regular Case VPA | An activity involving single measure or a set of interrelated measures implemented under a PoA that follow the framework/requirements set out by an associated real case VPA and PoA. | |
| Regular Project | Project for which the Stakeholder Consultation is conducted prior to the Project Start Date. | |
| Regulatory analysis | An analysis to demonstrate that the proposed activity represents mitigation that exceeds any mitigation that is required by law or regulation unless the law or regulation refers to or formally integrates the mechanism as an instrument for implementation. More details can be accessed in regulatory surplus requirements of the applicable methodology. | |
| Regulatory surplus analysis | The analysis to demonstrate that: i. The mitigation activity type is not excluded by the host country from its eligibility list (e.g., a negative list of activities, technologies, or measures ineligible for Article 6.2 and/or Article 6.4); ii. The mitigation activity results in emission reductions or removals that would not occur due to existing legal requirements, i.e., a law or regulation applicable to the proposed activity that may require a certain technological, performance or management action shall be considered, noting that regulatory environments vary. For more details refer to the additionality requirements of the applicable PA-aligned methodology | |
| Relevant stakeholders | The collective term for local, affected, interested and expert stakeholders. | |
| Remaining lifetime | The period during which an equipment would continue operating and/or a certain practice would remain in place without undergoing major repair or overhaul as specified in the mechanism methodology, given limitations such as technical lifetime, economic lifetime, legal requirements, policies, or any other factor which would lead to the discontinuation of the use of the equipment and/or practice. | |
| Removals | The outcomes of processes by which greenhouse gases are removed from the atmosphere as a result of deliberate human activities and are either destroyed or durably stored through anthropogenic activities. | |
| Renewable Energy | Energy derived from naturally replenishing resources, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, and geothermal heat. | |
| Renewable Energy Certificate | Renewable Energy Certificates are tradable, non-tangible energy commodities that represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource (renewable electricity) and was fed into the shared system of power lines which transport energy. Renewable Energy Certificates provide a mechanism for the purchase of renewable energy that is added to and pulled from the electrical grid. | REC |
| Re-quantification | Recalculating a project’s carbon credits under updated methodology. It applies to design-certified projects, Programmes of Activities (PoAs), and Voluntary Project Activities (VPAs). It is often used in context of projects seeking CCP labelling of issued GSVERs. Refer to CCP Labelling Requirements. | |
| Requirements | Elements (rules, procedures, guidelines) that the activity must conform to in order to proceed through Validation/Verification and ultimately Certification. | |
| Retroactive Project | Project for which the Stakeholder Consultation (1st round) is conducted after the Project Start Date | |
| Reversal | A net loss in the storage of a GHG or a precursor of a GHG for which ERs have been issued, calculated across all applicable greenhouse gas reservoir(s) over a period of time covered by a monitoring report. | |
| Reversal risk assessment tool | A methodological tool that is used to determine the fraction of the total number of ERs to be contributed to the reversal risk buffer pool account and whether an activity faces a negligible risk of reversal. | |
| Risk | The chance of something happening that will have an impact on objective. It is measured in terms of a combination of the probability of an event and its severity. | |
| Risk mitigation | Actions taken to lessen the probability or severity, or both, associated with a risk. | |
| Safeguarding Principles | Principles established under GS4GG Safeguarding Principles and Requirements helping projects to identify, prevent and mitigate negative, unintended consequences that may arise from any given intervention. | |
| Scale | The Scale of a project may refer to a variety of definitions for example areal extent, size of impact or units provided. Scale is not uniformally defined throughout GS4GG but is dealt with in the Activity Requirements, Methodologies and Product Requirements where specific definitions and requirements are included. | |
| SDG Impact Tool | A tool required to be used by the Project Developers/CME to effectively demonstrate and track their contributions to at least three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13, emphasising measurable, positive impacts on emissions reductions and broader sustainable development objectives. Available on GS4GG website at: https://globalgoals.goldstandard.org/sdg-impact-tools/ | |
| SDG Impacts | A direct, contextually linked, positive contribution to a Sustainable Development Goal generated by a Project. | |
| Sectoral scope | A group of activities and processes sharing similar sources of GHG emissions or removals. | |
| Shapefile | A shapefile is a digital vector (non-topological) storage format for storing geometric location and associated attribute information. A shapefile can consist of points, lines or polygons. | |
| Sink | Any process, activity or mechanism which removes a GHG, an aerosol or a precursor of a GHG from the atmosphere. | |
| Source | Any process or activity which releases a GHG, an aerosol or a precursor of a GHG into the atmosphere. | |
| Stacking | The practice wherein a Project Developer/CME combines multiple Gold Standard Certified Impact Statements or Products within a project, subject to adherence to all relevant requirements, methodologies, legal terms, and conditions. Stacking allows for the incorporation of additional certified impacts into a project’s design after Design Certification as well. | |
| Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement | The process of involving relevant or interested stakeholders in planning, implementation and decision-making to ensure their meaningful participation, address concerns, and optimise project outcomes through ongoing communication and collaboration. For more details refer to GS4GG Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement Requirements. (https://globalgoals.goldstandard.org/102-par-stakeholder-consultation-requirements/) | |
| Stakeholder Feedback Round | A specified period within the project’s stakeholder consultation process, during which relevant stakeholders are invited to provide input, comments, and suggestions on a proposed project’s design, implementation, and potential impacts, ensuring transparency, inclusivity, and alignment with project objectives and validation requirements. More details on this can be found in GS4GG Stakeholder Consultation and Engagement Requirements. | SFR |
| Standardised baseline | A standardisation developed on a subnational, national, or group-of-Parties basis rather than on activity-specific basis to facilitate the determination of the baseline, calculation of GHG emission reductions or removals and/or the determination of additionality for project activities, while ensuring environmental integrity within the scope of the standardised baseline. | |
| Sunset Clauses | A provision that establishes a defined end date or termination condition for the applicability, validity, eligibility, or operation of a methodology, or regulatory requirement. | |
| Suppressed Demand Scenario | A scenario in which the level of services available to a population falls below what is required to meet basic human needs, due to poverty, lack of infrastructure, or limited access to essential resources. Suppressed demand is not limited to energy services and may apply across sectors including water, health, transport and sanitation. In such scenarios, project activities may account for the anticipated increase in service consumption that would occur as living standards improve, rather than treating current low consumption levels as the baseline. | |
| Sustainable Development Goals | A set of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They were established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable development. | SDG |
| Sustainable development objectives and priorities of a host Party | The specific goals, targets, indicators, and priorities that a host Party sets to achieve Sustainable development within its borders. These objectives and priorities are typically aligned with the broader principles of sustainability, which aim to balance economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection. They are typically articulated in national development plans, policies, and strategies and are designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities within the country. | |
| Technical area | In the context of accreditation, a subsector of a sectoral scope defined based on the nature of technical processes, applicable methodologies, monitoring requirements and/or environmental impacts. | |
| Technical expert | In the context of validation and/or verification/certification, a qualified person who provides specific technical, methodological, and sectoral knowledge and/or expertise in a validation or verification/certification team or a technical review team. | |
| Technical lifetime | The expected period during which a physical technology, infrastructure, equipment, can remain functional and deliver the intended output if maintained according to the standard industrial practices. | |
| Technical reviewer | A qualified person appointed to conduct the technical review in a technical review team. | |
| Technology | Equipment or conversion process used for the production of goods or provision of services. It refers to the application of hardware, software or technical processes, such as solar Photovoltaic systems, carbon-capture units, direct air capture systems, pyrolysis reactors or advanced heat-recovery methods, that directly reduce emissions and/or increase removals. | |
| Tool/Methodological Tool | It refers to a tool that pertains to a specific guidelines and/or procedures under GS4GG. The primary purpose of these tools is to ensure consistency, accuracy, and transparency in measuring and reporting the estimated/verified impacts. These tools are typically referenced in the GS-approved methodologies. | |
| Transition project | Project transitioning to GS4GG from a previous version of Gold Standard or another standard. | |
| Transition request | The Transition Request is intended to enable projects to transition from previous versions of the Standard and also from other standard to transition to GS4GG. | TR |
| Unavoidable reversals | The reversals caused by factors over which the project developer/CMEs have no influence or control. | |
| Uncertainty | Lack of knowledge of the true value of a variable characterised by the range and likelihood of possible values. | |
| Validation | Validation is the independent assessment by a GS-approved VVB of a project’s design documentation against GS4GG requirements, resulting in a validation opinion. After listing, the projects may seek Gold Standard Certified Design status by successfully completing Validation (within two years of the date of Listing) and a subsequent Design Review. | |
| Validation and Verification Bodies | A third-party auditing organisation that is approved by Gold Standard to validate and verify projects’ compliance with Gold Standard Requirements. They are approved for specific certification pathways, and for specific project scopes, and their staff has certain technical expertise. All these criteria are relevant for the choice of a VVB for the validation or verification of a project. | VVB |
| Validation or verification/certification team leader | A qualified person appointed to direct and supervise a validation or verification/certification team. | |
| Validation/verification opinion | A VVB’s written conclusion regarding its validation or verification, as applicable, of a project activity proposed for registration or of a monitoring report. | |
| Validator or verifier | A qualified person appointed to conduct a validation or verification/certification in a validation or verification/certification team. | |
| Verification | A periodic independent evaluation and ex post determination by an independent GS-approved VVB, of monitored GHG emission reductions/removals and SDG Impacts that have occurred as a result of the design certified project or VPA. Verification can also be combined with validation which involves combined validation and verification assessment by VVB and a combined design review and performance review by Gold Standard. | |
| Voluntary Project Activity | A generic term used to denote both real case VPA and regular VPA. VPAs are always a part of a Programme of Activity. | VPA |
| VPA Bundling | Bundling refers to the grouping together of several VPAs that maintain their distinct characteristics within a single portfolio. These bundled project activities, known as a VPA bundle, are part of a Program of Activities and are executed collectively. | |
| Performance Review | The formal confirmation by Gold Standard that a project activity has successfully completed a Performance Review for a given monitoring period, and that the reported GHG emission reductions or removals and SDG impacts meet GS4GG requirements. Performance Certification is a prerequisite for the issuance of Gold Standard Certified Products or Impact Statements for the relevant monitoring period. A project activity must have completed at least one Performance Certification to be considered a Gold Standard Certified Project. |
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