Ecobiz.asia — The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Gold Standard have appointed eight organisations to participate in a pilot programme under their Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), marking a key step toward integrating Indonesia’s voluntary carbon market with international standards.
The announcement was made during the Seller Meet Buyer session at the Indonesia Pavilion at COP30 UNFCCC in Belém, Tuesday (Nov. 11, 2025), attended by Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Deputy Minister for Climate Change and Carbon Governance Ary Sudijanto, and Gold Standard CEO Margaret Kim.
The appointed participants are Ecosecurities, Fairatmos, Kosher Climate India Private Limited, PT Biru Karbon Nusantara, Rize Pte Ltd, South Pole, Star Energy Geothermal, and Value Network Ventures Pte Ltd (VNV).
These organisations are developing or operating Gold Standard-certified projects in the energy, agriculture, and forestry sectors, collectively estimated to generate over 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (tCO₂e) in annual emission reductions.
The MRA between the Ministry and Gold Standard was signed in May 2025, followed by the release of operational guidance for project developers in October. The pilot programme will apply and test these guidelines, with participants providing feedback to refine the certification process and ensure alignment between national and international carbon systems.
Gold Standard CEO Margaret Kim noted that Gold Standard currently has 29 listed projects in Indonesia, which have collectively issued more than 4.5 million carbon credits to date.
“These projects span Indonesia’s cities, rural areas, and coastlines, restoring mangroves, installing renewable energy, and improving waste management. They not only reduce emissions but also create jobs, strengthen gender equality, and improve sanitation,” Kim said.
She added that the pilot programme would serve as a formal platform for early movers to provide structured feedback to Gold Standard and the Indonesian government.
“These eight organisations will form a working group to help ensure a smooth and transparent transition for future projects. We are honoured to be part of this journey and look forward to a successful outcome of the pilot,” Kim said.
Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, in his remarks at the Seller Meet Buyer session, highlighted Indonesia’s broader collaboration with independent crediting bodies through the MRA framework.
“Indonesia has taken strategic steps to strengthen carbon pricing opportunities,” Hanif said. “We have developed a strong governance framework and established mutual recognition agreements with several independent crediting schemes, including Gold Standard, Plan Vivo, Global Carbon Council (GCC), Verra, and Puro Earth to build the foundation for credible, high-integrity transactions recognised globally.” ***
