Triangle Aircraft Services - Climate Neutral Strategy

18 The Gold Standard for carbon offset projects was developed with the par- ticipation of the WWF and 40 other NGOs. The standard sets particularly strict requirements regarding addition- ality, sustainable development and in- volvement of the local population and has so far only been applicable to re- new- able energy, energy efficiency and waste management projects. The methodology was extended in 2013 with the adoption of the Carbon Fix Standard, so land use and forestry pro- jects may now also be certified accord- ing to the Gold Standard. Standards for the certification of carbon offset projects More than half of the global volun- tary emission reductions are validated and verified according to the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). The standard contains precise regulations for the determination of CO2 reductions for different project types like affores- tation, wind power or cookstoves. Control through independent third parties, transparency and a conserva- tive approach for the calculations are binding requirements. Credits gen- erated by these projects are called Verified Carbon Units (VCU). VCS – Verified Carbon Standard The Climate, Community and Biodi- versity Alliance (CCBA) was founded in 2003 by a cooperation of NGOs und re- search institutions. Their purpose is to support land use and forestry projects that fulfil other social and ecological criteria in addition to CO2 reduction. For certification, a project must meet a total of fourteen criteria, whereby the standard can only be awarded to projects in addition to other stand- ards, such as the VCS. The CCB Gold Level status is given to projects that achieve exceptionally positive effects in adapting to climate change, promoting local communities and preserving bio- diversity. CCBS – Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standard Social Carbon Standard Another additional standard is the So- cial Carbon Standard, which analyses the social, ecological and economic impacts of a carbon offset project in detail to ensure sustainable develop- ment with the participation of the local population. The standard determines the concrete progress of a project by means of transparent indices and it documents their progress over time. Gold Standard (GS) Fairtrade Carbon Standard Only projects with renewable energies or energy efficiency already certified according to the Gold Standard can be certified with the Fairtrade Carbon Plan Vivo Standard The Plan Vivo Standard supports ru- ral com- munities and small farm- ers in the sustainable usage of their resources, their livelihoods and the preservation of local ecosystems. The standard has its roots in a Mexican re- search project conducted in 1994 by ECCM (Edinburgh Centre of Carbon Management) and the British Depart- ment for International Development. Since 2013, clear guidelines have been included to involve the local popula- tion at an early stage and to share the proceeds from emissions trading with them. Income from the sale of certifi- cates is distributed directly to the par- ticipating communities with the aim of reducing rural poverty and improving livelihoods. The CCB Standards are additional standards designed to support and promote land management activities, which sustainably combat global cli- mate change, improve the well-being and poverty of local communities and conserve biodiversity. The CCB stand- ards alone do not result in the delivery of greenhouse gas credits. Standard. They generate the so-called Fairtrade Carbon Credits. The Fairtrade Carbon Standard sup- ports small farmers and rural commu- nities in the global South. The commu- nities also receive a Fairtrade bonus enabling them to adapt to climate change. Fairtrade Carbon Credits are only avail- able for certain companies and products: only Fairtrade-cer- tified products are allowed to be- come climate neutral, and companies have to meet certain sustainability