The acquisition by the broadly-based Gold Standard of the CarbonFix standard, which focuses on tree planting projects, is designed to bring new clarity and trust to the land-use carbon sector.

“Integrating CarbonFix into The Gold Standard consolidates the quality end of the carbon certification market,” said The Gold Standard Foundation’s CEO, Adrian Rimmer, stating that the move would help reduce consumer confusion over the proliferation of such standards.

The CarbonFix Standard’s Executive Secretary, Pieter van Midwoud, added that the two standards were already ‘philosophically aligned’ in using carbon finance to drive sustainable project developments.

“It makes complete sense for us to become a key part of the Gold Standard’s extension into land‐use and forests,” he said.

At the same time, The Gold Standard and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) have announced agreement on a Memorandum of Understanding, recognising their respective approaches to social and environmental safeguards and carbon certification.

They say their collaboration will enable FSC to rely on The Gold Standard’s ‘robust approach to carbon accounting and benefit sharing’ when FSC-certified forest operations seek carbon finance.

FSC’s Ecosystem Services Manager, Stefan Salvador, said the partnership was a ‘dream team’
which would create a new benchmark for forest carbon projects.

* The Gold Standard was established in 2003 by WWF as a certification standard focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency carbon offset projects. The organisation’s stated aim is to ensure all such projects demonstrate real and permanent greenhouse gas reductions and sustainable development benefits that are measured, reported and verified.

* The CarbonFix Standard was developed in 2007 by the non-profit organisation CarbonFix. It’s stated aim is to ensure participants act in a sustainable way and that long term climate forestation projects are maintained through the successful integration of ecological, social and economic values.

edie staff

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