UPM Umwelt-Projekt-Management GmbH (UPM), the developer of the Sichuan Rural Poor-Household Biogas Development Programme (GS1239), is pleased to announce that the project has received an “A” rating from MSCI Carbon Markets, placing it in the top 10% of all household devices projects assessed by MSCI so far.

The strong result confirms UPM’s success in delivering a high-integrity carbon avoidance project that generates verified emissions reductions while providing tangible benefits to low-income rural communities in Sichuan Province, China.

The Gold Standard-registered project installs household biogas systems that convert organic waste into clean cooking fuel, displacing coal and avoiding methane emissions from animal manure. The independent MSCI assessment highlighted several areas of exceptional performance:

• Overall Rating: A (Score 3.8/5.0) – Top 10% of comparable rated projects, with “medium integrity and low risk” and “no very significant risks identified.”
• Very Low Delivery Risk (4.6/5.0) – Top 10%, reflecting strong financial, execution and registration security.
• Strong Quantification (3.6/5.0) – Top 10%, with transparent methodology and credible monitoring.
• High Additionality (4.0/5.0) – Top 20-30%, confirming the project’s financial reliance on carbon credit revenues.
• Significant Positive Co-Benefits (3.9/5.0) – Top 20-30%, including local employment, support for regional manufacturing, and pollution reduction.

“This MSCI A rating not only provides further independent evidence of this project’s high quality and integrity with respect to achieving real and verifiable climate and SDG impact but also of the low risk associated with a purchase of its GS VERs,” says Martin Dilger, the managing director of UPM. Summarizing UPM’s view on project ratings, he adds: “We are very happy about this new positive rating and fully acknowledge the important role of rating agencies for ensuring project quality and the integrity of carbon markets. Nevertheless, we encourage all project stakeholders not to rely solely on rating agency opinions but to also carry through their own thorough project due diligence in dialogue with the responsible project developers.”

UPM continues to lead in the development of high-quality carbon assets that support credible climate action and meaningful progress towards achieving the UN SDGs.

Your contacts at UPM for the Sichuan Household Biogas PoA and for purchasing its GS VERs are:

Martin Dilger, Managing Director, UPM Germany
mdilger(at)upm-cdm.eu, T: +49 89 1222197 – 50

and

Gaiai Guo, Vice General Manager, UPM China
guog(at)upm-cdm.eu, T: +86 10 6468 0500Let me know if you would like to adjust the tone or add any specific quote from UPM leadership.

About MSCI

https://www.msci.com

MSCI is a leading global provider of critical decision support tools and services for the investment community, serving over 7,000 clients across more than 95 countries. With a 50‑year heritage in research, data and technology, the company offers research‑enhanced solutions that help institutional investors understand risk and return drivers and build more effective portfolios. MSCI’s products and services include indexes (the firm calculates nearly 300,000 equity and fixed income indexes daily), portfolio construction and risk management tools, ESG and climate solutions, and private asset data and analysis. Headquartered in New York, MSCI also operates a dedicated Carbon Markets division that assesses the integrity and quality of carbon credit projects worldwide, with the aim of bringing transparency and rigor to voluntary carbon markets.