Environmental and Social Management Framework (esmf)

ESS 1 – Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts

220. 
     ESS1 sets out the Client’s responsibilities for assessing, managing and monitoring environmental and social risks and impacts associated with each stage of a project supported by the Bank through Investment Project Financing, in order to achieve environmental and social outcomes consistent with the Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). The Client will undertake an environmental and social assessment to assess the environmental and social risks and impacts of a project throughout the project life cycle. The environmental and social assessment is the primary means of ensuring projects are environmentally and socially sound and sustainable and will be used to inform decision making.
     
221. 
     The Client will undertake the environmental and social assessment at the scale and level of detail appropriate to the potential risks and impacts.
     
222. 
     The environmental and social assessment will be based on current information, including a description and delineation of the project and any associated aspects, and environmental and social baseline data at an appropriate level of detail sufficient to inform characterization and identification of risks and impacts and mitigation measures. The assessment will evaluate the project’s potential environmental and social risks and impacts; examine project alternatives; identify ways of improving project selection, siting, planning, design and implementation in order to apply the mitigation hierarchy for adverse environmental and social impacts and seek opportunities to enhance the positive impacts of the project.
     
223. 
     The environmental and social assessment will be conducted in accordance with ESS1, and will consider, in an integrated way, all relevant direct, indirect and cumulative environmental and social risks and impacts of the project, including those specifically identified in ESS1–10. The breadth, depth, and type of analysis undertaken as part of the environmental and social assessment will depend on the nature and scale of the project, and the potential environmental and social risks and impacts that could result. The Borrower will undertake the environmental and social assessment at the scale and level of detail appropriate to the potential risks and impacts.
     
224. 
     The environmental and social assessment will include stakeholder engagement as an integral part of the assessment, in accordance with ESS10.
     
225. 
     The environmental and social assessment will include and take into account coordination and consultation with affected people and other interested parties, particularly at an early stage, to ensure that all potentially significant environmental and social risks and impacts are identified and addressed.
     
226. 
     According to ESS1 the Client will manage environmental and social risks and impacts of the project throughout the project life cycle in a systematic manner, proportionate to the nature and scale of the project and the potential risks and impacts. 
     

2.