Gold Standard unveils framework to bolster consistency in soil carbon modeling

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🗞️ Driving the news: Gold Standard has released new guidelines to improve the measurement and verification of soil organic carbon (SOC) in climate projects
• Developed with climate tech firm Seqana and consultancy Sustainable AG, the framework introduces a seven-step workflow to standardize soil carbon modeling, from data collection to final verification
• The goal is to boost transparency, scalability, and scientific integrity in soil carbon accounting

🔭 The context: Soil carbon sequestration is a key nature-based solution in global climate strategies, but inconsistent methodologies and high monitoring costs have hindered credibility and investment
• By adopting a model-agnostic approach, the new guidelines accommodate diverse soil conditions and geographies, enabling the use of both digital and model-assisted estimation methods
• This complements Gold Standard’s wider effort to raise integrity standards across voluntary carbon markets, following its framework for engineered removals

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Reliable soil carbon accounting is essential to ensure that nature-based projects deliver genuine climate benefits rather than overstated claims
• By reducing reliance on costly field sampling and providing a scientifically credible path to verification, the framework can help unlock more investment in land-based carbon projects, particularly in regions where technical and financial barriers have slowed adoption

⏭️ What's next: Gold Standard will host a public webinar on October 14 to present the guidelines in detail, with Seqana experts participating
• The framework is expected to be integrated into upcoming soil carbon projects seeking certification, offering a stronger scientific foundation for scaling nature-based solutions globally

💬 One quote: “By providing clear direction, we aim to build confidence among practitioners, policymakers, and investors, enabling soil carbon projects to deliver credible climate and environmental benefits at scale,” said Giancarlo Raschio, Senior Specialist for Nature at Gold Standard

📈 One stat: Soil carbon projects are estimated to represent up to 30% of potential nature-based climate mitigation by 2030, underscoring the importance of credible measurement and verification frameworks

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