ICR tool for environmental and socio-economic safeguards and sustainable development

The ICR Environmental and Socio-economic Safeguards and Sustainable Development Tool (ESES Tool) is designed to support project proponents in the identification, assessment, and documentation of environmental, social, and economic impacts, as well as contributions to sustainable development, associated with GHG mitigation and removal projects seeking registration under the International Carbon Registry (ICR).

The ESES Tool is applied at the project development and validation stage and provides a structured framework to ensure that projects uphold the principle of do no harm, apply appropriate safeguards, and contribute positively to sustainable development outcomes.

Environmental Safeguards Assessment

The ESES Tool enables project proponents to assess potential and actual environmental impacts of the proposed project, including impacts related to air quality, water use, waste management, biodiversity, and the use of natural resources. The assessment requires identification of risks, potential positive and negative impacts, and the definition of appropriate mitigation and monitoring measures to prevent or minimize adverse environmental effects.

Social Safeguards Assessment

The ESES Tool supports the assessment of social impacts associated with the project, including impacts on local communities, employment, labor conditions, health and safety, land tenure, and stakeholder engagement. The objective is to identify potential social risks and benefits, ensure respect for human rights, and define safeguard measures to avoid, mitigate, or manage adverse social impacts while enhancing positive outcomes.

Economic Safeguards and Economic Development Assessment

The ESES Tool facilitates assessment of the project’s contribution to economic development, including aspects such as job creation, local economic activity, infrastructure development, and technology transfer, where applicable. The assessment focuses on identifying expected economic benefits and any potential economic risks associated with project implementation.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Assessment

The ESES Tool requires project proponents to identify and describe how the project is expected to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Proponents shall identify relevant SDGs, targets, and indicators, and provide a rationale for the project’s expected contribution to sustainable development objectives such as poverty reduction, improved health and education, gender equality, and climate action.

Purpose and Use

The ICR ESES Tool ensures a transparent, consistent, and verifiable assessment of environmental and socio-economic safeguards and sustainable development contributions prior to project registration. The completed ESES assessment forms part of the project’s public documentation and is subject to validation by an accredited Validation and Verification Body (VVB) in accordance with ICR requirements.

The outcomes of the ESES assessment provide the basis for ongoing monitoring and reporting using the ICR ESES-SD Monitoring Tool throughout the project lifecycle.

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