The EBRD's current 2003 Environmental Policy is currently undergoing review which should be completed in the second half of 2008. The current Policy includes the Environmental Policy Report as well as a number of additional sub-sectoral guidelines. Additional sectoral guidelines relating to the environment include guidelines on: Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Chemical Industries, Communications, Construction, Electronic and Electric Equipment, Food and Beverages, Metal Industries, Mining and Mineral Processing, Paper and Pringtin, Real Estate and Equipment Leasing, Retail Trade, Services, Telecommunications, Textile Manufacture, Timber and Wood Products, and Transport.
EBRD plans to expand the Environmental Policy into an Environmental and Social Policy, which will be complemented by a set of Policy Requirements, modeled after the Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation. On 11 May 2007, EBRD released a Discussion Paper outlining the direction it envisions the new Policy to take. This is a first step in what will be a series of consultations and drafts. The revision process was initially envisioned to continue through 2007, with a new policy presented to the Board in December 2007. Since then the process has stalled and consultations are planned for early 2008. The EBRD will also establish Environmental and Social Review Procedures to guide internal management of environmental and social performance.
In April 2007, EBRD released a Discussion Paper, followed by a 45 day comment period for civil society. In the Discussion Paper, the EBRD aims to significantly expand its policy in many important social and environmental directions. In addition to instilling significant preventative measures, the institution should also promote ‘doing good’ among its clients, such as mainstreaming social and environmental concerns within the lending portfolio, and building capacity in clients to promote sustainable development outcomes.
For a complete list of ADB Environmental and Social Policies and Strategies, please see the EBRD's website: