Peatland Finance Ireland launches V1.1 of the Peatland Standard for Ireland
Peatland Finance Ireland is pleased to announce the launch of Version 1.1 of the Peatland Standard for Ireland, building on the experience of its first year of application, independent auditing, stakeholder engagement, and pilot projects.
What is the Peatland Standard?
The Peatland Standard provides a robust framework for assessing and quantifying the benefits of peatland restoration. These include improvements in carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity and community outcomes.
By providing a consistent, transparent and credible approach to measuring these benefits, the Standard helps build confidence among investors and other stakeholders, while supporting peatland restoration projects in accessing the finance they need to deliver long-term environmental and community benefits.
From Version 1.0 to Version 1.1
Peatland Finance Ireland (PFI), a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee (CLG), developed Version 1.0 of the Peatland Standard in collaboration with stakeholders across government, semi-state bodies, academia, industry and local communities, launching in 2025. Its development was supported by both public and private funding.
The launch of Version 1.1 represents the next step in that ongoing development.
Version 1.1 introduces a number of updates designed to improve the transparency, clarity and practical application of the Peatland Standard. These include:
additions and refinements to a number of calculators and formulae;
greater transparency around cumulative claims used within the background carbon science and emissions reduction calculator;
additional guidance and text within the additionality calculator;
updates relating to market leakage and on-farm leakage;
further clarification of grievance procedures; and
revisions informed by the use of the Field Protocol and Peatland Standard across pilot and potential pilot projects, including projects involving paludiculture.
Further revisions have also been made to improve clarity around MRV requirements and to support the application of the Standard across a wider range of peatland restoration contexts.
Why was Version 1.1 needed?
The Peatland Standard underwent an independent audit by Carbon Direct between April and October 2025. The audit found the Standard to be robust, while also identifying opportunities to increase transparency around the scientific basis and application of certain elements.
The updates incorporated into Version 1.1 have been informed by the audit recommendations, as well as subsequent technical discussions with Carbon Direct and the European Commission's DG CLIMA in relation to the EU Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) framework.
These discussions identified some variances between the Peatland Standard and the developing CRCF framework, including considerations around maximum project lengths and certification periods. This provided an opportunity to review and refine the corresponding provisions within the Standard.
Experience from the Field Protocol and Peatland Standard pilots has also highlighted areas where further clarification would strengthen MRV requirements and improve consistency in their application. This includes learning from projects involving paludiculture and consideration of how the Standard can accommodate more challenging sites.
In addition, Tier 2 greenhouse gas emissions data has been revisited to explore opportunities for its use where site conditions make the collection or application of other data approaches more difficult.
Continuing to develop the Peatland Standard
The development of the Peatland Standard is an ongoing process. As restoration projects generate further evidence and research improves our understanding of peatland ecosystem services, the methodologies used to quantify these benefits will continue to evolve.
Ongoing research and improved modelling are expected to help streamline the assessment of biodiversity and water-related services. This work will support the longer-term development of a results-based scorecard approach.
Version 1.1 therefore represents both an important milestone and part of a continuing process of learning, testing and improvement.