[Carbon Market Trends Brief] Gold Standard Strengthens Biomass Criteria – Efforts to Restore Project Credibility > 게시글

 

Carbon Market Trends Brief (June 3st Week, 2025)

- Measures to Restore Trust in Credit Certification

- Expansion of Technology-Based Carbon Removal

- Commencement of Article 6.2-Based International Transactions

 

As of June 2025, the carbon market is showing a dual focus on enhancing credibility and execution. This is being achieved through stricter certification standards, increased investment in technology-driven removal solutions, and the formal implementation of cross-border mechanisms. In particular, the initiation of transactions under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement marks a significant milestone in the institutionalization of carbon markets.

 

 

Gold Standard Strengthens Biomass Criteria – Efforts to Restore Project Credibility

Gold Standard has recently revised its methodology regarding the fraction of non-renewable biomass (fNRB) for biomass fuel-related projects, taking a more conservative approach. Additionally, it has announced a schedule to phase out and update existing CDM methodologies.

 

These actions respond to concerns of overestimation, particularly in certain biomass-based projects such as cookstove initiatives. The revisions aim to uphold environmental integrity and rebuild market trust. Current values will expire by the end of 2025, after which updated tools—such as the MoFuSS model, CDM Tool 33, or tools based on Article 6.4—must be used.

 

CCS Investment Expected to Reach USD 80 Billion by 2030

According to a recent report by DNV, global investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS) is projected to reach USD 80 billion by 2030. CCS is gaining attention as a crucial decarbonization strategy for hard-to-abate industries such as steel, cement, and thermal power. Governmental support from initiatives like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the EU Innovation Fund is also increasing.

 

During the same period, Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy hosted the K-CCS International Conference in Seoul, sharing updates on the East Sea Gas Field CCS project and promoting interregional collaboration in the Asia-Pacific.

 

Ghana–Switzerland: First ITMO Transaction Under Article 6.2

The electric mobility project initiated under the Ghana–Switzerland climate agreement since 2020 has begun the issuance process for Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.

 

Ghanaian e-mobility company Wahu Mobility has officially received approval from both the Ghanaian and Swiss governments for the issuance of ITMOs. In partnership with the KliK Foundation, the project aims to distribute over 117,000 electric bikes by 2030 and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 752,000 tons.

 

Beyond emissions reductions, the initiative also delivers significant social co-benefits, including the creation of over 50,000 new jobs, the revitalization of the domestic battery manufacturing sector, and the promotion of gender inclusion (targeting 15% female ridership by 2030).

 

 

Key Implications

Strengthening Integrity in Biomass Projects
→ The conservative revision of standards by certifying bodies such as Gold Standard reflects a broader trend toward restoring environmental integrity and transparency in the market. This could also impact future forestry and biomass-based mitigation projects.

 

CCS Highlighted as a Key Technological Solution
→ As a high-cost, high-tech solution, CCS is emerging as a central focus of both private investment and policy support. This suggests a growing potential for CCS to become a strategic industrial decarbonization tool.

 

Institutionalization of Cross-Border Article 6 Transactions
→ The actual issuance and transfer of ITMOs marks a transition from the conceptual to the operational stage of the Article 6.2 mechanism. This serves as an important precedent for other international mitigation efforts.

 

 

The carbon market is evolving beyond a simple emissions reduction tool into a mature global mechanism, integrating development cooperation and policy alignment while reinforcing trust and operability through improved standards and implementation.

 

 

 

Related Articles and Reference Materials :

1) Gold Standard Strengthens Certification Framework with New Rules Supporting Paris Agreement Alignment and Biomass Accounting Updates

2) Global Investment in CCS Surges Toward $80 Billion as Climate Goals Drive Demand

3-1) Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Hosts International Conference on Carbon Capture and Storage

3-2) Ghana E-Bike Maker Approved to Sell CO2 Credits to Switzerland