PRIZMA

The IFC  published its Updated Guidance Notes, the companion to the Updated IFC Performance Standards, which will also apply to Equator Banks and be effective January 1, 2012. 

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As the year is coming to an end, I assembled the favorite entries on my blog. Are you curious to see which ones made it to the Top 10 list and which ones attracted most comments? (more...)

Prizma’s Bill Kennedy was recently invited to participate at the 6^th Sustainability Management Conference in Seoul, Korea.  The focus of the event, sponsored by the Korean Standards Association and the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, was an examination of the IFC Performance Standards, the Equator Principles and OECD’s Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the way in which companies and banks have been responding to them.  (more...)

OECD Watch reports that UK National Contact Point for OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises re-initiated review of BHP Billiton's bypass case of its MOZAL smelter in Mozambique after IFC Compliance Advisor Ombudsman appears to have failed to facilitate a resolution of this case.  (more...)

The Equtor Principles Association has recently co-launched the Biodiversity for Banks (B4B) program, with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program (BBOP). (more...)

In advance of the gathering of Equator Banks for the fifth Community of Learning event hosted by the IFC this week, BankTrack published its critical review: The Outside Job -Turning the Equator Principles towards people and planet. (more...)

Given trust deficit highlighted by Occupy Wall Street movement, should Equator Bank’s develop and adopt assurance standards, a recommendation emerging from the Strategic Review of the Equator Principles?

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Articles: Prizma provided Expert Witness services on ICSID arbitration case, assisted Lundin Mining and Fulbright Academy to generate Sustainability Reports, and co-delivered four GRI-certified training courses. Access newsletter here.

IFC disclosed its 2011 Sustainability Framework (that includes the IFC Performance Standards) which will become effective on January 1, 2012. They contain strengthened aspects related to transparency, climate change, business and human rights, biodiversity and supply-chain management.

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There appears to be an increase in SEAs relating to the extractive/mining sector, including the Central Namib Uranium Rush study, which caught my eye.

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