New briefing outlines how to strengthen hydropower’s credibility in carbon markets
The Hydropower Sustainability Alliance has launched a new briefing outlining the role of the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS) in building trust for hydropower in carbon markets.
Titled Strengthening hydropower’s credibility in carbon markets, the briefing makes the case for how robust, independent sustainability assurance can address longstanding concerns about the integrity of carbon credits, while supporting the inclusion of hydropower in high-integrity market mechanisms.
This new resource outlines the role of the HSS in safeguarding environmental and social risks that have historically undermined confidence in hydropower carbon credits.
It is the second in a new series of digital publications created by HSA following the recent launch of Make your hydropower finance-ready.
As carbon markets evolve under mechanisms such as the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism (PACM), the new briefing highlights the importance of ensuring that projects deliver strong social and environmental outcomes in addition to verified emissions reductions.
Built as a web-based publication, the briefing helps policymakers, standard-setters and market participants understand how the HSS can support more credible and transparent approaches to hydropower crediting.
It highlights how the HSS provides:
Independent, third-party assessment of sustainability performance
A comprehensive framework for identifying and managing ESG risks
Transparent, publicly available results that build trust among market participants
These elements position the HSS as a practical tool for strengthening confidence in hydropower carbon credits and supporting their role in high-integrity carbon markets.
The briefing is now available to explore online.
