Rules & Toolkit
In order to apply for Gold Standard certification a project must adhere to the rules, requirements and guidelines of The Gold Standard Version 2.1.
The Gold Standard Version 2.1 is comprised of:
The smart, practical toolkit provides clarity and guidance helping project proponents to successfully implement high quality greenhouse gas reduction projects that also make measurable positive impacts on sustainable development.
For ease of use The Gold Standard has split out the toolkit, listing all the relevant sections in easily downloadable guidance notes, templates or legal documents. If you cannot find the required document/template please do not hesitate to contact the Secretariat.
For projects implemented under older Gold Standard Versions (e.g. Version 1.0 or 2.0) the relevant details can be located in the document archive.
GUIDANCE NOTES (open/close)
A. Gold Standard Structure and Guidance
C. Guidance on Project Type Eligibility
G. Guidance on Demonstration of Additionality
H. Guiding Questions for ‘do-no-harm’ Assessment
TEMPLATES (open/close)
K. Outline of the Validation and Verification Report
Q. Gold Standard Local Stakeholder Consultation Report Template
Project Design Document for Gold Standard Voluntary Offset projects
LEGAL DOCUMENTS (open/close)
O. Emission Reduction Acquisition Agreement: pre-CDM GS VERs
DOCUMENT ARCHIVE (open/close)
The Gold Standard Version 2 (GSv2) was superseded by The Gold Standard Version 2.1 (GSv2.1) on July 1, 2009. For project developers that applied to list a project prior to this date, please use the rules outlined below throughout the lifetime of the project.
Gold Standard Version 1
For project developers who applied to list a project with The Gold Standard prior to August 1st, 2008, the rules in force at the time of application remain valid throughout the project lifetime. The following GSv1 documents can be accessed here for reference:
GS-CER Project Developer’s Manual
GS-VER Project Developer’s Manual
GS-CER Validation and Verification Manual
GS-VER Validation and Verification Manual
GS-VER Project Design Document Template
CDM Rulebook
The CDM Rulebook is the definitive online database of the CDM rules and is freely available to the public:
CDM PDD Template
This link downloads the latest UN template for the CDM Project Design Document (PDD):
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