Assessment of occupational health and safety is
critical for every project
Mott MacDonald recognises that growing public awareness of
environmental and social issues is driving change in consumer
behaviours, investment and regulation. To meet these changing
demands and to reduce risk, there are international guidelines for
financial institutions and private sector investors – namely the
Equator Principles.
International Finance Corporation (IFC) drafted the Equator
Principles in 2003 to provide a framework for implementation of
environmental and social procedures and standards for project
financing activities across all global industry sectors.
The desired outcome of the Principles, along with the IFCs 'Policy
and Performance Standards on Social and Environmental
Sustainability', is the development of projects that are socially
responsible and reflect sound environmental management practices.
Over 40 financial institutions have now signed up to the Principles
globally. The key policy statement within the principles asserts
that financial institutions will not provide loans to customers
which are unable to, or do not follow the financial institutions’
environmental policies. The principles apply to a wide range of
project financings, including those with total capital costs of US
$10 million or more.
Mott MacDonald has been involved in implementation of the Equator
Principles by acting as the lender’s engineer and performing social
and environmental due diligence audits. The audits include reviews
of relevant environmental documentation, such as environmental
impact assessments and environmental management plans, and of the
project’s overall compliance with the principles.
We have completed assessments on a range of schemes, including
energy projects in several countries, and airport developments in
Cyprus, Ankara, Izmir and Istanbul in Turkey, and Mumbai and Delhi
in India.
