Deviations

Deviations

These FAQs refer to Deviations Approval Requirements and Procedures

When can I apply for a deviation?

Projects certified under Gold Standard for the Global Goals must adhere to all applicable requirements and procedures, as well as implement their certified design and monitoring plan and follow them as per the Project Design Document specifications. 

In some rare occasions, if a project is temporarily unable to comply with the certified monitoring plan, or with specific deadlines, it may apply for an exception for a given process or monitoring period. Such deviations are granted on a project-by-project basis on the discretion of the Gold Standard Technical Advisory Committee or based on precedents already reviewed and published. 

A deviation has a start and end date - projects can never be granted a deviation from standard requirements indefinitely. To avoid loss of credits or certification status, Project Developers must endeavour to comply with all standard requirements and procedures at all times and keep up to date with any requirements changes that may affect their project.

Project developers seeking permanent changes to a registered project activity cannot do this with a deviation request and need to follow the Design Change Approval Process. 

How do I submit a deviation request for approval? 

The procedure for submitting a deviation request is outlined in the Deviation Approval Requirements and Procedures. A full list of published deviations can be viewed online. 

To initiate a deviation request, project developers must:

• Fill out a Deviation Request form, including justification of the need for the deviation and a proposed alternative ensuring conservative outcomes
• If necessary identify, contract and pay an approved VVB to provide an opinion. The VVB may require an extra fee for this service. 
• Submit to SustainCert the Deviation Request Form and all relevant supporting documentation. The request will be initially reviewed by SustainCert to check for precedents – if none exist it will be passed to Gold Standard Secretariat for review and passed for additional review by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), if required.
• On average, a deviation request takes between 1 and 3 months to review.

What is the deviation approval process?

Deviation requests are initially reviewed by SustainCert to check for precedents – if none exist the request is passed to Gold Standard Secretariat for review and additional review by the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), if required.  On average, a deviation request takes between 1 and 3 months to review.

Approximately half of all deviation requests are rejected or only partially approved.

Details of the approval process involving Gold Standard Secretariat and Technical Advisory Committee can be found in the Deviation Approval Requirements and Procedures document Section 5