The Gold Standard Foundation operates a certification scheme for carbon credits in both the voluntary and compliance offset markets, accepting only renewable energy and end-use energy efficiency projects that actively promote sustainable development.

A firm or organization wishing to register a project with the Gold Standard and obtain GS certification for the project's carbon credits follows the same steps as for the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), but must supply additional information at various stages of the process. Carbon offset projects that satisfy Gold Standard requirements are granted permission to use the Gold Standard brand name and logo, and sell their carbon credits with the Gold Standard label.

Gold Standard credits for the compliance offset market (CDM & JI) are issued and tracked in the UNFCCC/CDM Registry, with a Gold Standard label. GS-certified carbon credits intended for the voluntary offset market are issued directly by the Gold Standard Foundation and tracked in the Gold Standard Registry.