On May 8, 2025, Indonesia marked a significant step forward in its carbon market evolution through the signing of a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) between the the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Gold Standard Foundation.

The agreement was formally signed by Margaret Kim, CEO of Gold Standard, and Ir. Ary Sudijanto, M.S.E, Deputy for Climate Change and Carbon Economic Governance at the Ministry of Environment. The ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia—highlighting strong governmental support for enhancing the integrity, transparency, and global interoperability of Indonesia’s carbon market.

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Fairatmos at the Forefront of Market-Defining Moments

Fairatmos was honored to be among the selected carbon project developers and climate tech stakeholders invited to witness this milestone. As a digital platform dedicated to high-integrity Nature-Based Solutions (NBS), our participation reflects the government’s commitment to engaging with credible international and local players to scale climate action.

This MRA sends a clear message: Indonesia is open for global carbon buyers, project participants, and financiers—backed by government alignment and credible certification pathways.

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What Does the MRA with Gold Standard Actually Mean?

During the talk show segment of the event, Ir. Ary Sudijanto, M.S.E and representatives from Gold Standard clarified how the MRA is designed to function—not as a replacement, but as a complementary system to Indonesia’s national registry, SRN (Sistem Registri Nasional).

Here’s a simplified breakdown:

• Project developers can choose to follow either:

  • Gold Standard (GS) and proceed with a PDD (Project Design Document); or

  • SRN pathway through DRAM (Dokumen Rancangan Aksi Mitigasi)

• Both tracks remain valid for voluntary carbon market issuance, and:

  • GS-certified projects can request a corresponding SRN certification label. This does not require an additional DRAM process—avoiding duplication. 

  • The same applies to projects certified under SRN that wish to obtain Gold Standard certification

• For the compliance market, registration in SRN is mandatory

  • Projects certified under GS can apply for recognition in SRN through a manual request process, based on current procedures

This ensures project flexibility, while keeping national oversight and consistency intact—boosting confidence from both international buyers and domestic stakeholders. Hence, with this MRA, projects will be able to continue or begin certification under Gold Standard for the Global Goals, subject to compliance with the approval process established by the Ministry of Environment, and all other requirements under Indonesian national law.

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A Roadmap in Progress

Both the Ministry of Environment and Gold Standard are working to finalize a detailed roadmap to implement the MRA effectively. While manual applications are currently allowed, a streamlined system is expected to be rolled out—ensuring a smoother integration process for developers and stronger alignment across platforms. To support this, Gold Standard and the Ministry of Environment will establish a task force responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Agreement.

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What’s Next: Broader Collaborations on the Horizon

In a press interview, H.E. Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia,  confirmed that Indonesia is currently in discussions with four additional countries to establish MRAs, including Norway. Talks are also progressing with other major standards such as Verra and ARTTREES, signaling a broader shift toward interoperable, globally recognized carbon standards rooted in national credibility.

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Why This Matters for the Future of Climate Finance

The MRA with Gold Standard, backed by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Indonesia is more than just symbolic. It represents a clear pathway for high-integrity climate finance to enter Indonesia—supporting Nature-Based Solutions, biodiversity, and community-driven projects at scale.

At Fairatmos, we believe this is a turning point for the Southeast Asian carbon ecosystem—where digital innovation, government alignment, and global standards converge to unlock the true value of climate action.

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