Audit techniques
UPDATE
Gold Standard is updating all existing methodologies to align with the principles of the Paris Agreement (PA). Non-Paris aligned methodologies will be retired, and PA-Aligned versions must be applied for all vintage 2026 issuances. Please read the full update here and associated FAQs.
Gold Standard Methodologies will be revised in accordance with the PA Alignment Schedule and prioritised based on usage. Paris aligned methodologies will be published on our Paris Agreement Alignment Documents page.
To leverage existing assessments, Gold Standard is actively following the UNFCCC process to republish CDM methodologies under Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM). If there are significant delays with PACM publication, Gold Standard will include and update any relevant methodologies within its workplan.
The revised Site visit and remote audit requirements v.2.0 comes into force on 30 August 2023 (90 days from publication). The revised version expands the scope of remote auditing to PoAs and VPAs as well. Using the latest version of the requirements before 30 August 2023 date is permissible.
If the previous version of the “Site Visit and Remote Audit Requirements” are being used to implement and validate/verify the project, it is mandatory for the validating/verifying VVB to use the Audit Techniques Template. If the latest version of the “Site Visit and Remote Audit Requirements” (v.2.0) is being used, it is not mandatory to the “Audit Techniques Template”, however the VVB shall ensure that all the relevant information related to the means of verification and auditing techniques used is reported in the validation/verification report.