PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD · PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD 6 of 19 Table 1: UN SDG and ACR Certification Labels Silver Number of UN Level SDGs targeted Does each of the chosen

PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY

STANDARD

V1.0 - 2019

GLOBAL CARBON COUNCIL

PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD

Page2


GLOBAL CARBON COUNCIL

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 4

2 BACKGROUND OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS .............................. 4

3 INTEGRATING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS INTO PROJECT DEVELOPMENT ........................................................................................................ 5

4 ACR CERTIFICATION LABELS .............................................................................. 5

5 DESIGN OF GCC PROJECT LEVEL SDGS, TARGETS AND INDICATORS ........ 7

6 PERFORMANCE OF THE DEFINED PROJECT LEVEL SDG TARGETS .............. 8

7 THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION OF GCC PROJECT LEVEL SDG, TARGET AND INDICATORS .................................................................................................... 9


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1 Introduction

1. Global Carbon Council (GCC), MENA region’s first voluntary carbon offsetting

program, is an initiative of Gulf Organization for Research and Development that

aims to contribute to a vision of sustainable and low carbon economy of the region

and help to catalyse climate actions on the ground.

2. This standard provides requirements for sustainability of projects based on

contributions made towards achievement of United Nations Sustainability

Development Goals (SDGs). This standard mentions how to integrate United

Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into GCC project development

thereby catalysing climate action and contributing to global objective of meeting

Sustainable Development Goals. The requirements in this standard are not

mandatory for GCC Projects and the project owners may choose to voluntary apply

this standard to demonstrate the level of contribution of the project to SDGs and

accordingly indicate their choice in the project submission form (PSF), which shall

be verified ex-post by approved GCC Verifiers. However, once the project

participant chose to apply the standard for development and assessment of

project, the provisions in this standard become mandatory.

3. This standard has been developed based on the requirement of the ‘Standard on

Project requirements and Development of Methodologies’ (v2.0 – 2019) and

therefore the requirements stipulated in the above document shall also be

applicable when using or applying this procedure to GCC projects.

4. The development of this standard has been based on the analysis of various

approaches suggested by many publicly available publications and sources

including the approach developed by CDM, Gold Standard and Verra.

2 Background of Sustainable Development Goals

5. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development agreed by all countries is intended

to transform the world to be a better place to live

6. The global indicator framework was adopted on 6 July 2017 and is contained in

the Resolution1 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly and contains 17

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 169 targets, and 232 indicators. Each

UN Level SDG has defined at least one targets and an indicator.

1 United Nations General Assembly Resolution: https://undocs.org/A/RES/71/313


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7. Many national governments have set up SDG implementation structures and are

taking steps to integrate SDGs into their national planning. For example, Qatar2

has declared 6 SDG goals out of 17 as its priority for their sustainable

development.

8. Private sector and many corporates are also contributing to this objective in their

own way and has been reported under UN Global Compact.

3 Integrating Sustainable Development Goals into Project Development

9. The GCC framework has been designed to contribute to this global effort and

effective implementation of SDG through the development of GCC projects.

10. Since, these SDG and associated targets and indicators have been developed

with the country wide focus and level; and many countries have defined their

priority lists of SDGs, the the project owners are encouraged to voluntarily choose

to contribute to selected SDGs prioritized by countries, In defining these SDGs

they shall choose the associated targets and indicators in context to the project

level scope. This will enable GCC projects to contribute to the global and national

goals, while working at the project level. If for some justified reasons the project

owners wishes to contribute to SDGs other than those in country’s priorities, they

can do so.

4 ACR Certification Labels

11. All GCC projects shall demonstrate a clear, direct contribution to sustainable

development, defined as making demonstrable, positive impacts on at least one

‘UN SDG 13’ (defined herein as Emissions Reductions or Removals and/or

Adaptation to climate change).

12. Each of the UN level SDG included in the GCC project shall include at least one

UN Level target and corresponding indicators by suitably modifying and

customizing it to the project level scope, after considering nationally declared

priorities.

13. Depending on the number of SDGs targeted, ACR Certification labels can be

achieved by the GCC Project accordingly as shown in Table 1 below:Table 1: UN

SDG and ACR Certification Labels

2 The State of Qatar: Second Voluntary National Review, July 2018:

https://www.mdps.gov.qa/en/knowledge/Doc/QNV/Report%20of%20the%20National%20Voluntary%20review%202018.pdf


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Table 1: UN SDG and ACR Certification Labels

Number of UN Level

SDGs targeted

Does each of the chosen UN level SDG include at least one

UN Level target and corresponding indicators

Level of ACR

Certification

ACR Certification

label

2 out of 17 Yes Level 1 Bronze

3 out of 17 Yes Level 2 Silver

4 out of 17 Yes Level 3 Gold

5 out of 17 Yes Level 4 Platinum

More than 5 Yes Level 5 Diamond


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5 Design of GCC Project Level SDGs, Targets and Indicators

14. The GCC project owner shall design and define its ‘Project Level SDGs, Targets

and Indicators’ to be included in the Project Submission Form (PSF) as per the

Table 1, prior to Project Verification

15. The matrix in table 1 below provides the framework for mapping 17 UN level and

project level SDGs, targets and indicators, demonstrating the additionality of

actions, monitoring of key parameters for demonstrating contribution of GCC

project to SDGs and Verification and reporting of conclusions by GCC Verifier. The

rows can be added to the table in case multiple targets/indicators selected by

Project Owner for selected SDG.

16. The GCC project owner shall describe and demonstrate that:

(a) Each of the UN level SDG included in the GCC project shall include at least

one UN Level target and corresponding indicators by suitably modifying

and customizing it to the project level scope, after considering nationally

declared priorities;

(b) the chosen ‘Project level SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ described in the

Project Submission Form (PSF) are:

(i) an intentional voluntary action;

(ii) due to direct positive effect of the GCC project activity; and

(iii) additional to what would have occurred in absence of the GCC

Project activity.

(c) PSF contains GCC project activity’s targeted certification labels (Bronze,

Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond), towards contribution to the achievement

of voluntary commitments on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) .

17. The Project Owner shall submit the information required in Table 1 and reference

it in the Project Submission Form (PSF). The following six-step procedure shall be

followed:

(a) Step 1: To identify ‘Project level SDG, Target and Indicator’, the Project

Owner shall review the ‘UN SDGs, Targets and Indicators’3 from the relevant

‘National SDGs, Targets, Indicators’, or in their absence, the latest internationally

adopted version and develop a shortlist.

3 UN Level Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Targets, and Indicators:

https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/indicators-list/


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(b) Step 2: Review the shortlist and SDGs chosen to be included in the

deliverables of GCC project including at least one target and corresponding

indicator, suitably modifying and customizing it to the project level scope. Lot of

guidance is available publicly which can be used.4

(c) Step 3: Identify the broad list of potential ‘Project level SDGs, targets and

indicators’ for demonstrating the impact of Project on SDGs. All Project level

SDGs, targets and indicators shall be demonstrated as making a positive effect on

what contribution the Project brings to achieve the selected SDGs.

(d) Step 4: Based on the potential Project level SDGs, targets and indicators

identified in Step 3, select the minimum SDG 13 (climate action) that meet the

requirements stated above.

(e) Step 5: For the most relevant Project Level SDGs, Targets and Indicators

identified in Step 4 above, propose a justification that demonstrate how the GCC

project contributes and positively impacts the chosen UN Level SDG and the

Target.

(f) Step 6: Include the monitoring approach or the monitoring parameters

corresponding to each Project Level SDG, Target and Indicator in the Project

Submission Form

6 Performance of the defined Project level SDG Targets

18. The GCC project owner shall report the achievement of project contribution

towards UN SDGs through Project Level SDG performance, Targets and

Indicators as committed in the registered Project Submission Form (PSF). This

shall be reported in the Monitoring Report as per the Table 2, prior to start of

Emission Reduction Verification.

4 Guidance to develop ‘Project level SDG, target and indicators’:

Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Reporting- A Practical Guide: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/publications/Practical_Guide_SDG_Reporting.pdf

Case-study from Coca-cola and other organisations to develop organisation wide SDGs (page 114): https://pub.iges.or.jp/pub/realising-transformative-potential-sdgs

SDG Industry Matrix- Food, Beverage and Consumer Goods: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/9786CRT046599%20SDG_Food_Bev_24Feb_WEB_FINAL.pdf

About the Sustainable Development Goals: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/


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19. The Matrix in table 2 below maps the 17 UN Level and the ‘Project level SDG,

Target and Indicators’ as defined in Table 1 and demonstrates performance and

contribution of GCC project to sustainable development goals and how the GCC

Verifier shall report its conclusions for the entire monitoring period.

7 Third-party Verification of GCC Project Level SDG, Target and Indicators

20. During Project Verification, the approved GCC Verifier shall also conduct

verification of the of the defined ‘Project Level SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ as

reported in the Project Submission Form (PSF).

21. The GCC Project Verifier shall provide as a part of the GCC Project Verification

Report, which contains a written assurance called as Project Certification

Statement that:

(a) Each of the UN level SDG included in the GCC project shall include at least

one UN Level target and corresponding indicators by suitably modifying and

customizing it to the project level scope, after considering nationally

declared priorities;

(b) the chosen ‘Project level SDG, Target and Indicators’ described in the

Project Submission Form (PSF) are:

(i) an intentional voluntary action;

(ii) due to direct positive effect of the GCC project activity; and

(iii) additional to what would have occurred in absence of the GCC Project

activity.

(c) the GCC project activity is expected to contribute to the achievement of

voluntary commitments on UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),

including targeted certification labels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum,

Diamond), as committed voluntarily in the PSF.

22. During Emission Reduction Verification, for the chosen monitoring period, the

approved GCC Verifier shall also conduct verification of the contribution of the

project towards UN SDGs as committed in the Project Submission Form (PSF)

and reported in the Monitoring Report.

23. The GCC Emission Reduction Verifier shall provide as a part of the GCC Emission

Reduction Verification Report, which contains a written assurance called as

Emission Reduction Certification Statement that:


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(a) the chosen ‘Project level SDG, Target and Indicators’ described in the

Project Submission Form (PSF) are due to direct positive effect of the GCC

project; and

(b) the GCC project activity has actually achieved the commitments to UN

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Project Level targets and

targeted certification labels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) as

defined in the PSF and the Monitoring Report.


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Table 1: Matrix defining the ‘Project level SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ in the PSF:

UN Level SDG

UN Level Target

Declared Country Level SDG

Defining Project Level Goals GCC Project Verifiers Conclusion (To be included in

Project Verification Report only)

Project Level SDG

Project Level Target/ Actions

Project Level Indicator

Contribution of Project Level Target/ Actions

Monitoring Verification Process

Are Goal/ Targets Likely to be Achieved?

Describe ‘UN SDGs, Targets and Indicators’

Refer: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/indicators-list/

Describe UN Level Target and indicate the correspo-nding Indicator No.

Has the country declared national priorities in view of SDGs? Indicate Yes or No.

Define ‘Project Level SDG’ by suitably modifying and customizing ‘UN/ Country Level SDG’ to the project level scope.

Guidance: Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Reporting- A Practical Guide: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/publications/Practical_Guide_SDG_Reporting.pdf


Define ‘Project Level Target/Action’ by suitably modifying and customizing ‘UN/Country Level Target’ to the project level scope’ and define the ‘target date’ of achievement of Goal. Refer previous column for Guidance

Define ‘Project Level Indicator’ by suitably modifying and customizing ‘UN/Country Level Indicator’ to the project level scope or creating a new indicator. Refer previous column for Guidance

Describe and justify how ‘Project level SDG, target and indicator’ likely to make a direct positive effect for achievement of SDG

Describe the monitoring approach and the monitoring parameters to be applied. corresponding to each ‘Project Level SDG, Target and Indicator’

Describe how the GCC Verifier has verified the claims that the project is likely to achieve the identified Project level SDGs and the targets.

Describe whether the Project level SDG, target and indicator’ is likely to be achieved on the ‘target date’

(Yes or No)

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere



https://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/publications/Practical_Guide_SDG_Reporting.pdf





https://pub.iges.or.jp/pub/realising-transformative-potential-sdgs





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Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements


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inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

SUMMARY Targeted Likely to be Achieved

Total Number of SDGs

Certification labels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) for the ACRs as defined in the PSF


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Table 2: Matrix defining the Performance of ‘Project level SDG, Target and Indicators’ in the Monitoring Report

UN Level SDG

UN Level Target

Declared Country Level SDG

Defining Project Level Goals GCC ER Verifiers Conclusion (To be

included in Emission Reduction Verification

Report only)

Project Level SDG Project Level Target/ Actions

Project Level Indicator

Contribution of Project Level Target/ Actions

Monitoring Verification Process

Are Goal/ Targets Achieved?

Describe ‘UN SDG, Target and Indicators’

Refer: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/indicators-list/

Describe UN Level Target and indicate the correspo-nding Indicator No.

Has the country declared national priorities in view of SDGs? Indicate Yes or No.

Define ‘Project Level SDG’ by suitably modifying and customizing ‘UN/ Country Level SDG’ to the project level scope.

Guidance: Integrating the SDGs into Corporate Reporting- A Practical Guide: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/publications/Practical_Guide_SDG_Reporting.pdf


Define ‘Project Level Target/Action’ by suitably modifying and customizing ‘UN/Country Level Target’ to the project level scope’ and define the ‘target date’ of achievement of Goal. Refer previous column for Guidance

Define ‘Project Level Indicator’ by suitably modifying and customizing ‘UN/Country Level Indicator’ to the project level scope or creating a new one. Refer previous column for Guidance

Describe and justify how ‘Project level SDG, target and indicator’ made a direct positive effect for achievement of SDG

Describe the monitoring approach and the monitoring parameters applied corresponding to each ‘Project Level SDG, Target and Indicator’.

Describe how the GCC Verifier has verified the claims of the achievement of the Project level SDGs and the targets.

Describe whether the Project level SDG, target and indicator’ has been achieved on the ‘target date’ (Yes or No)

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture










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Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable


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Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Goal 17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

SUMMARY Targeted Achieved

Total Number of SDGs


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Certification labels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond) for the ACRs during the monitoring period from DD/MM/YYYY to DD/MM/YYYY


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Version Date Comment

V 1.0 25/06/2019 ▪ Initial version released for approval by GCC Steering Committee.

▪ This version contains details and instructions on the information to be provided, consequent to latest developments world-wide (e.g., CORSIA EUC).

DOCUMENT HISTORY


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Documents

PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD · PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY STANDARD 6 of 19 Table 1: UN SDG and ACR Certification Labels Silver Number of UN Level SDGs targeted Does each of the chosen