Gold Standard

Gold Standard is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, established in 2003 by WWF and other international NGOs as a best practice standard to ensure projects reducing carbon emissions deliver the highest levels of environmental integrity and sustainable development outcomes. Founded in response to concerns about carbon markets potentially becoming a 'race to the bottom' in environmental conservation, Gold Standard was created to identify and encourage well-designed activities that maximize greenhouse gas reductions while delivering wider sustainable development benefits.

Today, Gold Standard sets standards for the highest integrity projects designed to combat climate change and catalyse sustainable development. As an independent NGO, their trusted methodologies, tools and frameworks empower organisations to mobilise finance and deliver verified impact where it matters most. Gold Standard enables projects and programmes to certify carbon reduction, removals and SDG impacts, supporting lasting and proven benefits for the climate, people, and nature. With 4,000+ projects underway in over 100 countries, they have created billions of dollars in shared value from climate and development action worldwide, making Gold Standard the global benchmark for highest integrity and greatest impact in climate action.