Resources

Validation & Verification

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VALIDATION

  • A systematic, independent, and documented process to evaluate if a project’s planned activity is likely to achieve the results described.
  • Conducted on projected data.
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VERIFICATION

  • A systematic, independent, and documented process to evaluate if a project’s reported results have been achieved.
  • Conducted on historic data.

SustainCERT provides Validation and Verification services for the Gold Standard microscale scheme.  Please see here for a description of the Gold Standard certification cycle

Our third party Validation and Verification services are carried out as follows:

  • Client completes a pre-engagement form and enters into a contractual agreement with SustainCERT
  • SustainCERT chooses the best Team to carry out the assignment and communicates this to the Client.
  • The assignment is planned by SustainCERT according to the profile of each project and the timeline is shared with the Client
  • SustainCERT carries out the assignment according to the Audit Plan and prepares an initial report. This report is reviewed by an independent team member before a final statement is issued.

 

SustainCERT has a responsibility to establish rules governing how references can be made to its validation and verification statements . These are summarized as follows:

Whenever a simplified, short description of a statement is used by a client, the client must also ensure that the long form used in sustainCERT’s final report is also referenced or included for a complete understanding. Two examples are shown below to illustrate the difference between validation/verification and reasonable/limited level of assurance.

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SHORT FORM

  • Verified at the reasonable level of assurance (historical data only)

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  • Validated at the limited level of assurance (forecast/projected data only)

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LONG FORM

  • in its opinion dated 20XX-XX-XX, sustainCERT concluded with reasonable level of assurance that the data in our statement was materially correct and a fair representation of GHG other reporting information
  • in its opinion dated 20XX-XX-XX, sustainCERT found no evidence to indicate that the data in our statement is not a materially correct and fair representation of likely GHG information and other reporting information

IMPARTIALITY STATEMENT