Environmental, Social and Human Rights policy

As part of our support to UK exporters and in line with our international commitments, we identify and, where appropriate, conduct due diligence to assess the Environmental, Social and Human Rights (ESHR) risks and impacts of projects we are asked to support overseas.

The Policy and Practice on ESHR Due Diligence and Monitoring statement informs exporters, banks, project sponsors and other interested parties on our arrangements for:

• identifying ESHR risks and impacts and carrying out due diligence to be satisfied that, as far as practically possible, we support projects which should be constructed and operated in line with relevant standards
• monitoring alignment of projects with relevant ESHR standards over the life of UKEF support

Our note on Human Rights and Social Risks and Impacts describes UKEF’s approach to identifying and managing social and human rights risks and impacts of projects we are asked to support overseas.

The ESHR flowchart shows the processes we follow when considering environmental, health, safety, social and human rights impacts.

The Export Guarantee Advisory Committee advises the Secretary of State for International Trade on our operations, including ESHR risks.

The Equator Principles

We adopted the Equator Principles in 2016. This is a global framework for ESHR decision-making in financing projects. Find out more about our commitment.

• 26 June 2017: UK Export Finance joins Equator Principles steering committee
• 4 November 2016: UKEF’s implementation of the Equator Principles
• 31 March 2016: UKEF adopts Equator Principles

Our announcements

UKEF supports UK companies export all over the world. Our latest projects include:

• Bee’ah’s headquarters, designed by the late Dame Zaha Hadid and built by Carillion, which will be the first building of its kind in the city of Sharjah to be powered entirely by renewable and recoverable energy sources, whilst using recycled materials in its construction

Category A projects

Category A projects are those with the potential to have significant adverse environmental and/or social impacts.

We update our list of Category A projects, whenever we consider or support a Category A project.

ESHR risk and impact categorisations

We publish data on new and existing ESHR risk and impact categorisations and contingent liabilities as part of our Annual Report and Accounts:

• Environmental, Social and Human Rights risk and impact categorisations 2016 to 2017

• Environmental, Social and Human Rights risk and impact categorisations 2015 to 2016

CoRWM provides independent scrutiny and advice to UK government and devolved administration minsters on the long-term management of radioactive waste, including storage and disposal. The committee’s primary task is to provide independent scrutiny on the UK government’s and Radioactive Waste Management Ltd’s high profile programme to deliver geological disposal, together with interim storage, for higher activity wastes.

The role of the CoRWM Chair is high profile and the Chair may be required to appear before Parliamentary Select Committees. The Chair is also the committee’s main point of contact with stakeholders and will represent the committee’s views to both broadcasting and written media (where required).

The Chair will be appointed for a single term of 4 years, renewable for a further term at the discretion of the Secretary of State.

Further information and details of how to apply are available on the public appointments website: https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/appointment/chair-24/

The closing date for applications is 23:00 on 19 February 2018.

The Environment Agency consults the public on certain applications for waste operations, mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities. The arrangements are explained in its Public Participation Statement

These notices explain:

• what the application is about
• how you can view the application documents
• when you need to comment by

The Environment Agency will decide:

• whether to grant or refuse the application
• what conditions to include in the permit (if granted)

The Environment Agency consults the public on certain applications for waste operations, mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities. The arrangements are explained in its Public Participation Statement

These notices explain:

• what the application is about
• how you can view the application documents
• when you need to comment by

The Environment Agency will decide:

• whether to grant or refuse the application
• what conditions to include in the permit (if granted)

This regulatory position statement (RPS) applies to:

• operators with a bespoke biowaste environmental permit
• operators with a bespoke biowaste environmental permit who want to vary (change) their permit