Environmental and Social Safeguards (or Standards)

Definition

“Environmental and Social Safeguards (or Standards) [ESSs] is used by development institutions, international treaties and agencies to refer to policies, standards and operational procedures designed to first identify and then try to avoid, mitigate and minimize adverse environmental and social impacts that may arise in the implementation of development projects."

Source: WWF

Explainer

Environmental and social safeguards (ESS) are an emerging orientation that consider the social and environmental impact of policy decisions and implementation processes. The core objectives of ESS are to limit and mitigate social and environmental risks and impacts at all levels of policy design and implementation processes, including at the project level. ESS are now part of all major government decision-making bodies and corporate institutions.