The Gold Standard quality benchmark emerged and has evolved in parallel with the emergence and maturation of carbon offset markets.
Supporters of the Gold Standard are committed to promoting sustainable development through carbon offset markets that are characterized by transparency and equality of access for all market participants.
The Gold Standard Foundation registers projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions in ways that contribute to sustainable development and certifies their carbon credits for sale on both compliance and voluntary offset markets.
The governance structure is comprised of the Foundation Board, the Technical Advisory Committee and the Secretariat. The Gold Standard Foundation obtains its core funding from both public and private sector contributors and sources additional revenue from sponsorship agreements and fees.
To qualify as an offset, the reductions achieved by a project need to be additional to what would have happened if the project had not been carried out. Otherwise, the emissions reduction activities will not lead to a net reduction in the rate of greenhouse gas accumulation. Carbon offset projects also need to use revenue generated from the sale of carbon credits to finance their productive activities, and avoid diversion of funds from other planned development investments.
