Gold Standard

The Gold Standard is the first independent best practice benchmark for greenhouse gas offset projects. Initiated by WWF, the Gold Standard is supported by approximately 40 environmental and development NGOs worldwide.

Projects applying the additional Gold Standard criteria are awarded with the Gold Standard label for premium quality carbon credits.

South Pole Ltd. has a distinctive portfolio of premium emission reduction projects. We are committed to seek Gold Standard certification whenever feasible in order to add value to a project.

You can find projects currently undergoing the Gold Standard stakeholder consultation process here.

South Pole Ltd. developed and brought to market the first ever issued Gold Standard Certified Emission Reductions (CERs).
If you are interested in buying issued Gold Standard CERs contact Thomas Camerata, t.camerata [at] southpolecarbon.com.

The first example of a successful Gold Standard CDM project

Movie from BBC reporter on our registerered 4.5 MW Biomass Power CDM Project in India

After a successfull registration of the project in 2006, UNFCCC issued the first ever CERs that were awarded with the Gold Standard label in spring 2007. The project is a 4.5 MW Biomass based power generation unit at Malavalli Power Plant Pvt Ltd.

"This project not only delivers emission reductions but also tangible contributions to sustainable development. Although relatively small in size, the project supports the local economy by creating 500 fulltime jobs," said Dr. Christoph Sutter, Managing Director of South Pole Ltd. "We will sell these CERs for a premium price to interested buyers that are looking for the best available quality."

"The Gold Standard is pleased to see projects like Malavalli in the market, as they reflect the spirit of the Kyoto Protocol and the underlying purpose of CDM. As the market is subject to increasing criticism regarding its ability to stem climate change, projects like Malavalli contribute to a long-term solution while keeping social equity and development imperatives in mind," said Jasmine Hyman, Marketing Director for the Gold Standard Foundation.

The 4.5 MW biomass power project was implemented in rural India using different types of lowdensity biomass waste. Prior to the project, this waste was either burnt on the fields or left to decay. Malavalli project enables local farmers and labourers to become entrepreneurs in the procurement business. In order to ensure stakeholder participation, project promoters organised a platform called Grameena Udyog Samithi for local farmers. They also established Grameena Abhivrudhi Mandali, an NGO that manages power distribution, billing and revenue collection for the project.

Additional sustainability benefits include the implementation of a 100% ash utilization scheme involving the production of organic fertilizer that is subsequently redistributed to local farmers, thereby promoting organic farming.

The Malavalli Power Plant Private Limited sets a clear example of premium quality in the CDM and how Gold Standard projects can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide tangible sustainability benefits at the same time.

The CDM components including Gold Standard documentation were developed by South Pole Carbon Asset Management and the Swiss-based MyClimate Foundation, which is also the first buyer of CERs from this project. South Pole is currently selling 50,000 issued CERs as well as future CER streams from the project.