Engineered Carbon Removal Processes Got officially Certification Guidelines from Gold Standard Organization
Gold Standard, a leading certifier of carbon emission reduction projects, has announced the development of a new framework aimed at further strengthening the sustainable development impact of engineered Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) projects.
The 'Just and Sustainable Transitions Framework' is designed to ensure that these technology-based solutions, such as direct air capture (DAC) and bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), deliver economic, social, and environmental benefits to host communities.
The framework aligns with Gold Standard's previous mission of ensuring sustainable development outcomes and maintaining scientific rigor and stakeholder safeguards. It outlines core requirements for certification, including reversal risk mitigation, buffer contributions, and safeguards for sustainable development outcomes. Projects must also contribute towards at least three of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
To mitigate the risks associated with carbon removal projects, the framework requires projects to follow core principles that include the mitigation of reversal risk, mandatory buffer contributions, and strong safeguards for sustainable development. Projects must ensure no risks to ecosystems or communities, establish inclusive stakeholder engagement channels, and contribute to at least three UN SDGs.
The new standard upholds Gold Standard's mission of fostering sustainable development while reducing carbon emissions. It aligns with key policy and market frameworks such as the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework, CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), and Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement. This alignment ensures that the Gold Standard's requirements are compatible with evolving international carbon markets and regulatory structures, facilitating recognition and use of the credits generated by certified engineered removals in these existing frameworks.
Gold Standard has already published the Engineered Removals Activity Requirements, a new framework for high-integrity engineered carbon dioxide removal projects. In 2022, the organisation released two approved engineered CDR methodologies: Carbon Mineralization using Reactive Mineral Waste by Neustark and Biomass Fermentation with Carbon Capture and Geologic Storage by Summit Carbon.
Margaret Kim, Gold Standard's CEO, encourages developers to use the new requirements and work with Gold Standard to build new methodologies and deliver durable projects that benefit local communities. The framework is designed to certify engineered carbon dioxide removal projects, specifically focusing on technology-based solutions that physically extract CO2 from the atmosphere.
Gold Standard emphasizes the importance of engineered removals working in tandem with rapid emissions reductions to help keep the 1.5 °C target within reach. The organisation was established in 2003 by WWF and other NGOs to ensure carbon emission reduction projects deliver on sustainable development.
[1] Gold Standard (2022). Engineered Removals Activity Requirements. Retrieved from https://www.goldstandard.org/our-work/engineered-removals
[4] Gold Standard (2022). Carbon Mineralization using Reactive Mineral Waste by Neustark. Retrieved from https://www.goldstandard.org/project/carbon-mineralization-using-reactive-mineral-waste-by-neustark
[4] Gold Standard (2022). Biomass Fermentation with Carbon Capture and Geologic Storage by Summit Carbon. Retrieved from https://www.goldstandard.org/project/biomass-fermentation-with-carbon-capture-and-geologic-storage-by-summit-carbon
- The new framework, the 'Just and Sustainable Transitions Framework' by Gold Standard, aligns with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), requiring engineered Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) projects to contribute towards at least three of these goals.
- The framework emphasizes the importance of science in ensuring the safety and sustainability of CDR projects, including direct air capture (DAC) and bio-energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), by outlining core requirements for certification such as reversal risk mitigation and sustainable development safeguards.
- In line with the international efforts to combat climate-change, the framework integrates with key policy and market frameworks like the Paris Agreement, CORSIA, and the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework, facilitating the recognition and use of the credits generated by certified engineered removals in these existing frameworks.
