Paris Agreement Aligned documents

This core standard operationalises the transition to the Paris Agreement era. It mandates that all carbon credits (GSVERs) with a vintage of 1 January 2026 and onwards must be quantified using PA-aligned methodologies.

This document is a guidance for Paris Agreement Alignment

Requirements and principles for integrating a Just Transition into activities certified under Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG). The document ensures that the transition towards a low-carbon economy is fair and inclusive, addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges in a comprehensive manner.

This document sets the rules for agricultural projects seeking GS4GG certification. It defines what types of activities are eligible (e.g., soil organic carbon, methane reduction) and establishes safeguards to ensure projects contribute to climate security without causing harm (e.g., protecting wetlands and native forests).

This methodology is applicable to activities on cropland that achieve the durable removal of carbon dioxide through the application of a microbial inoculant. The approach exploits mutualistic interactions between beneficial soil microorganisms and plant root systems to capture carbon dioxide and convert it into soil inorganic carbon (SIC).

The methodology focuses on reducing methane emissions from livestock from enteric fermentation by capturing them using in-situ devices. Typically, the system includes methane capture and conversion units, which will be worn by the livestock.

This methodology applies to the activities that involve recovery and use of methane from manure and agricultural wastes that would be decaying anaerobically, emitting methane to the atmosphere, in the absence of the implemented activity

Methodology for projects seeking to quantify GHG Emissions Reductions from projects that displace decentralized thermal energy technologies. Used in conjunction with the GHG Emissions Reduction & Sequestration Product Requirements projects may be issued with carbon credits.

Methodology to quantify GHG Emissions Reductions from micro-scale cookstove projects. Used in conjunction with the GHG Emissions Reduction & Sequestration Product Requirements projects may be issued with carbon credits.

This methodology applies to modern energy cooking appliances that directly measure in real-time the amount of energy or fuel consumed in households, communities, and/or institutions such as schools, prisons or hospitals. This includes, but not restricted to, LPG, electric and biogas metered cookstoves, and bio-ethanol cookstoves.

This methodology applies to activities that accelerate the permanent decommissioning of operational fossil-fuel electricity generators in decentralized energy contexts, including off-grid systems, unreliable grid environments, and captive generation, and replacing them with new renewable energy systems. Activities applying this methodology must also develop and implement a Just Transition plan, including measures to maintain or improve energy access and support communities affected.

This methodology applies to activities that accelerate the permanent decommissioning of grid-connected coal-fired power plants, combined with the deployment of new grid-connected renewable energy generation to replace the retired capacity. Activities applying this methodology must develop and implement a Just Transition plan, including measures to protect workers and communities affected by plant closure.

This standard defines how to set a "Crediting Baseline"—the reference level against which emission reductions are measured. The core principle is that baselines shall be set below Business-As-Usual (BAU) levels to encourage increasing ambition over time.

"Leakage" refers to unintended greenhouse gas emissions that occur outside the project boundary as a result of the project activity. This standard ensures that projects do not simply shift emissions elsewhere (e.g., protecting a forest in one area causing deforestation in a neighboring area).

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.

This Standard document provides a comprehensive set of requirements for the development and assessment of methodologies under Gold standard for Global Goals. This document ensures alignment of GS4GG Core Principles – 1 & 4 with Article 6 of Paris Agreement (Rule, Modalities and Procedures (RMPs) - Article 6.4 (A6.4) and Article 6.2 Guidance).

! Rule Update(s) applies

Methodology Tool 1 details the methods and requirements for calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil fuel combustion for process operations. Tool 1 shall be used for emission calculations in conjunction with a GS4GG-approved methodology(ies).

This tool operationalises the "Downward Adjustment" requirement from the Baseline Determination Standard. It provides a standardised mathematical framework to calculate a specific percentage (the DAF) by which a project's baseline must be adjusted to ensure it is ambitious and aligned with the Paris Agreement's net zero goals.

This tool removes subjectivity from additionality assessment by providing a strict, quantitative framework to determine if a project's technology or practice is already "common" in the market. If a project is deemed "common practice" according to these metrics, it is not eligible for carbon credits.

This optional add-on to the Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG) Clean Cooking methodologies, such as Reduced Emissions from Cooking and Heating (RECH V5.0), provides digital monitoring requirements and methods for activities. It may also be used, where compatible, with other GS4GG methodologies that apply Kitchen Performance Tests (KPTs) for fuel consumption measurement. The tool supports robust data collection, with all outputs integrated into the parent methodology’s emission reduction calculations, ensuring compliance with established caps and ambition requirements.

PACM investment analysis tool adopted for implementation in GS4GG projects

This document provides the framework and procedures for transitioning legacy Gold Standard for the Global Goals (GS4GG) activities to Paris Agreement Aligned (PAA) methodologies. It establishes standardised validation and verification requirements, cross-cutting transition principles, and methodology-specific guidance to support alignment with evolving climate ambition, empirical safeguards, and host country decarbonization pathways.

This document outlines the requirements and procedure for design-certified projects to seek Core Carbon Principles (CCP) labelling of Gold Standard Verified Emission Reductions (GSVERs). It applies to design-certified projects, Programmes of Activities (PoAs), and Voluntary Project Activities (VPAs) seeking CCP labelling of issued GSVERs. This also includes cases wherein which methodology updates involve changes to either the methodology version or the methodology itself.

This rule addresses the risk that drying rice fields (to reduce methane) could inadvertently release soil carbon. It mandates a conservative approach to ensure that emission reductions are not overestimated due to SOC losses.