On 13 March, the Ukrainian Agrarian Council (UAC) organised a seminar on environmental and social standards, which are extremely important for ensuring responsible and sustainable agribusiness.

The seminar was aimed at raising awareness and professional skills of the participants regarding environmental and social standards, which are now an integral part of farmers' activities.

The World Bank is one of the largest international financial institutions that has a huge impact on the economic development of countries and the implementation of infrastructure projects. However, given its scale, it not only finances projects, but also actively shapes policies aimed at environmental protection and social development. To this end, the bank has introduced a number of environmental and social standards as part of its operations to ensure responsible and sustainable development of projects.

Environmental and social World Bank standards are critical to ensuring sustainable development at the global level. These standards include requirements that help to reduce the negative impact on the environment and society as part of the implementation of projects funded by this international institution. They are aimed at ensuring that each financial project meets the requirements for preserving nature, improving people's living conditions and protecting their rights.

Basic standards:

✔️оцінка and managing environmental and social risks and impacts. This implies that every project financed by the World Bank must undergo a thorough review for possible negative environmental and social impacts;

✔️зайнятість and working conditions, which not only ensure decent conditions for employees, but also guarantee non-discrimination, fair working conditions, occupational health and safety, and social guarantees;

✔️ефективне resource use and pollution prevention. All projects financed by the bank must contribute to reducing pollution and ensuring the rational use of natural resources. Particular attention is paid to the prevention of water, air and soil pollution, as well as waste management;

✔️здоров health and safety of the population. It includes measures to improve sanitation, water supply safety and the fight against infectious diseases;

✔️придбання land and involuntary resettlement. The World Bank requires that processes related to the removal of people from their land be conducted in accordance with legal norms and do not violate the rights of people, especially vulnerable groups. Involuntary resettlement can only take place if human rights are respected and compensation is paid;

✔️збереження biodiversity. Natural resources, including flora and fauna, are fundamental to ecosystem health and human well-being. All projects must include strategies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources;

✔️стандарти for indigenous peoples and traditional local communities. The Bank requires that the rights of these groups of people are taken into account, and that their traditional rights to land, resources and cultural heritage are respected;

✔️культурна heritage to be protected during the implementation of projects that may affect historical and cultural sites;

✔️фінансові intermediaries, such as banks, that provide loans for project implementation. The World Bank requires these intermediaries to comply with its environmental and social standards and to only provide finance to projects that meet environmental and human rights requirements.

The World Bank classifies business activities into four risk categories depending on the threat that the project may pose to the environment and social aspects. This allows the bank to accurately determine the level of risk assessment and the necessary measures to minimise it.

1. Category A - high risk (projects that may have a serious impact on the environment or social situation).

2. Category B - medium risk (the project has the potential for serious impacts, but the impacts can be controlled or mitigated).

3. Category C - low risk (minor environmental or social impact).

4. FI (Financial Intermediaries) category - financial intermediaries (banks or other financial institutions that provide loans for low- or medium-risk projects).

This classification helps banks and financial institutions to determine the degree of risk and plan appropriate strategies to minimise negative consequences.

List of documents for environmental and social assessment: a detailed analysis.

An environmental and social assessment is an important step in the implementation of any project funded by international organisations, including the World Bank. In order to ensure that a project meets environmental and social standards, a certain list of documents must be provided to confirm that all requirements have been met. Here is a detailed list of documents for environmental and social assessment:

1. A loan application with a description of the client's business:

This is a document submitted by the business planning to implement the project. It should include general information about the company, a description of its activities, project objectives, and financial aspects. The loan application is the first step in assessing the project, including its potential environmental and social impacts.

2. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) report:

◦ It is a report that assesses the potential environmental impact of a project. The EIA includes an analysis of factors such as air, water, soil pollution, changes in biodiversity and other natural aspects. The EIA conclusion is provided in order to identify potential environmental risks and mitigation measures.

3. Permit for emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere by stationary sources:

◦ Companies that emit pollutants into the atmosphere must have a permit for pollutant emissions issued by the relevant environmental control authorities. This allows you to regulate the amount and type of emissions in accordance with environmental safety standards.

4. Documentation on monitoring of pollutant emissions into the atmosphere:

◦ This document contains monitoring data, inspection reports and other materials confirming that the company complies with the permitted limits of air pollutant emissions.

5. Report on emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere:

◦ This is an annual report in the form 2-Тн, which is submitted to the environmental control authorities. The report contains information on the volume of pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions and the measures taken to reduce them.

6. Permit for special water use:

◦ This document is required if the company uses water resources for its own needs, in particular for groundwater or surface water abstraction, as well as for discharging wastewater into water bodies.

7. Report on water use in the form 2-ТП (water):

◦ This report contains data on the volume of water use and water management of the enterprise. It is important for monitoring the efficiency of water use.

8. Wastewater monitoring documentation:

◦ Documentation confirming the control and monitoring of the quality of wastewater discharged by the company into the environment. This documentation helps prevent water pollution.

9. Permit for waste treatment operations:

A document confirming that the company has the right to carry out waste disposal or treatment operations in accordance with the requirements of the law and environmental standards.

10. Report "1-Waste" (annual):

- This report contains information on the amount and types of waste generated at the enterprise, as well as measures for its disposal or recycling.

11. Permit for handling and storage of hazardous substances:

- Businesses that work with hazardous substances must have a permit to store and handle them to prevent risks to the environment and human health.

12. Permission to use forest resources:

- If a company uses forest resources, it must obtain a permit for their use to ensure the rational and sustainable development of forestry.

13. Licence for the right to store fuel:

- A fuel storage licence is mandatory for companies that store fuel resources. This document is part of ensuring safety and environmental responsibility.

14. Licence for storage of agrochemicals and pesticides:

- A licence for the storage of agrochemicals is required for companies that work with chemicals that may have a negative impact on the environment.

15. Other permits in accordance with the law:

- These are all other documents that a company must have in accordance with the requirements of national legislation to conduct environmental and social activities.

16. Declaration on labour protection:

- This document confirms that the company meets the health and safety requirements for its employees, in particular with regard to health and safety in the workplace.

17. Documents on the environmental and social risk management system:

- The environmental and social risk management system should include policies, monitoring and control measures, and internal regulations governing environmental and social responsibility at the enterprise.

18. Orders and job descriptions for responsible persons:

- These are documents that define who is responsible for environmental and social aspects at the enterprise, such as an ecologist, occupational health and safety manager, social responsibility manager, etc.

19. Personnel policy:

- A document that defines the company's human resources issues, including recruitment policy, training, occupational safety and social guarantees for employees.

💬"This list of documents is required for the environmental and social assessment that must be carried out for every project financed by international institutions such as the World Bank.

It monitors compliance with environmental and social standards and promotes sustainable development at all stages of project implementation. Sustainable development is not just a phase or a trend, it is a necessity for our future. The World Bank has developed a set of environmental and social standards to help countries not only develop, but also do so responsibly.

Whether it is human health, nature conservation, or minority rights protection, all these aspects should be taken into account in every project.

These are not just standards, they are guarantees that development will not cause a catastrophe for nature and society.

The challenges facing the world require integrated solutions, and we must all work together to create a world where economic success does not conflict with environmental safety and social rights," says Alla STOYANOVA.

💙💛WORKING TOGETHER TO WIN

📄Detailed information on the slides developed by the UAC experts