Principles and practice standards

The Equator Principles are a financial industry framework for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risk in project finance

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Identify: Understand potential environmental and social risks/impacts, including those related to human rights, climate change and biodiversity.
• Measure, assess and value: Conduct an appropriate assessment process to address the relevant environmental and social risks, as well as the scale of the potential impacts, of the proposed project.
• Implement: Prepare an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) to address any issues raised in the assessment process, and to incorporate the steps required to comply with the applicable standards.

The ISO Standards for validation, verification and assurance specify general principles and requirements for the validation and verification process of sustainability information, including reporting on environmental, social, governance (ESG) and other sustainability aspects. It also provides general principles and requirements for determining the categorisation of quantitative and qualitative information.

ISO’s 31000 risk management standards cover all types of risk and are applicable to all organisations regardless of their type, size, activities and location. It is intended for use by anyone who manages risks, rather than solely professional risk managers.

ISO’s pathway and transition standards support users in tackling climate change at a strategic, governmental and organisational level, through to tactical applications at the project and product levels. These standards in the ISO 1406x series provide the tools for organisations to develop programmes that can control and eliminate GHG emissions. They focus on integrating organisational adaptation plans by illustrating the impacts and uncertainties of climate change and how they can inform decision-making.

ISO’s management system standards define how an organisation can manage the interrelated parts of its business in order to achieve its objectives. These objectives can relate to a number of different topics, including product or service quality, operational efficiency, environmental performance, health and safety in the workplace and many more. The management system standards help organisations improve their performance by specifying repeatable steps that they can implement to achieve their goals and objectives. They can also help to create an organisational culture that engages in a continuous cycle of self-evaluation, correction and improvement of operations and processes, such as through heightened employee awareness, and management leadership and commitment.

ISO’s measurement and monitoring standards comprise a series of international standards that provide guidance and frameworks for effective environmental management. These standards cover various aspects of environmental management, including environmental policy, planning, implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement.

ISO’s governance standards are a cluster of standards that provide guidance on organisational governance. The standards are applicable to all organisations regardless of type, size, location, structure or purpose.

The Green Bond Principles (GBP) seek to support issuers in financing environmentally sound and sustainable projects that foster a net-zero emissions economy and protect the environment.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

• Implement: Use global guidelines that outline best practices when issuing bonds serving social and/or environmental purposes.
• Verification, assurance and certification: Illustrate alignment with the four core components of the GBP.

This document sets the SVI Standard to apply Principle 7: Verify the result. The essence of this Principle is to take action; to make decisions about social value in response to data and measurement.

Use this resource to:

• Verification, assurance and certification: Ensure stakeholders are involved in reviewing the final results and verifying them assurance is being provided on behalf of the people who experience the changes in their life.

This document sets the SVI Standard to apply Principle 6: Be Transparent. The essence of this Principle is to take action; to make decisions about social value in response to data and measurement.

Use this resource to:

• Communicate: Demonstrate the basis on which the analysis may be considered accurate and honest, and show that it will be reported to and discussed with stakeholders.