Every SDG claim here is verified or clearly marked as not yet.
An SDG impact can only read Verified once it is backed by monitored results and signed off by an independent validator. Anything still in progress is shown as a claim, not a result. No badge outruns its evidence.
How a claim earns the word “verified”
Gold Standard names the risk directly — “SDG washing”: SDG impact claims made without adequate safeguarding and inclusivity, or that are false or falsely exaggerated. This ledger is built so that can't render as truth. A claim passes every gate below — the platform's actual publication checkpoint — before it can go public as verified.
The nine-principle safeguarding assessment is done — the precondition Gold Standard sets for any credible co-benefit claim.
The project meets the mandatory gender-sensitive bar (Principle 2 compliance).
Two consultation rounds and a grievance mechanism, closed out by the Consultation Report with comments addressed.
A representative of the community and participating landowners has co-signed the Consultation Report themselves — the project cannot assert it on their behalf.
Every claimed indicator is backed by measured results from a completed reporting period — not an ex-ante estimate.
A Gold Standard validator (VVB) has verified every indicator against its evidence.
The SDG monitoring log is complete for the reporting period.
The Gold Standard minimum — real, primary impacts, each traceable to an approved clause.
The minimum three must include SDG 13 — climate action plus at least two other goals.
Why this is built this way. Credits carrying an independently certified co-benefit have traded at a ~78% price premium, and SDG-associated projects ~86% higher, than those without. (Ecosystem Marketplace, State of the Voluntary Carbon Market 2023)
SDG tool GS 430G v1.1
Validator Carbon Check
Illustrative — New Beginnings pilot