Catalog

1. Implementation

71. The implementation of the Environment Policy will be guided by medium-term action plans, beginning with the period 2002–2005. Appendix 7 provides the implementation and monitoring matrix for the first medium-term action plan. The medium-term action plan is directed at the five major objectives of the Environment Policy:

1. assisting DMCs to invest in environmental protection and natural resource management for poverty reduction;
2. strengthening the DMCs’ capacities to mainstream environment in economic growth and development planning;
3. enhancing international, regional, and subregional cooperation and the transfer of finance and technology for maintaining global and regional life support systems;
4. building partnerships to tackle environment and natural resource management challenges; and
5. enhancing the integration of environmental considerations into ADB operations.

72. The regional departments and the Private Sector Department, supported by the Regional and Sustainable Development Department, will be responsible for policy implementation. Regional departments may formulate regional environment strategies, as in the case of the Pacific Regional Department, which is currently preparing a regional environment strategy for the Pacific. At the country level, the CSP process will be the principal entry point for tailoring policy implementation to each DMC’s specific needs and priorities, based on the country environmental assessment process.

73. With the new organization structure, the regional departments are responsible for proposing the categorization of all loans in consultation with the Regional and Sustainable Development Department. Final categorization is approved by the chief compliance officer. The project teams are responsible for ADB’s environmental assessment process, and environment specialists in regional departments will review environment assessment reports. Quality assurance of projects and programs will be undertaken by the project teams, with formal peer review of category A projects being done through the environment committee. Internal and external environment networks will facilitate cross-fertilization, knowledge sharing, and dissemination of lessons.

74. In 2002, ADB will implement new guidelines for environmental assessment. The new guidelines (i) institutionalize tools to integrate environmental concerns into country programming, (ii) have a transparent procedure for environmental categorization, and (iii) provide a mechanism for addressing ADB’s lending activities in the financial sector and other lending activities where project or subproject designs are uncertain. The new guidelines

1. improve analysis and documentation leading to the environment categorization of projects at the concept stage, through use of standard checklists and internal consultation between concerned departments;
2. strengthen CEA to better integrate environmental concerns in the CSP;
3. introduce environmental due diligence and environmental management accountability for indirect financing through financial intermediaries as a means of ensuring compliance with ADB environmental assessment requirements;
4. place greater emphasis on preparation and implementation of detailed environmental management and monitoring plans that must be produced during the environmental assessment process;
5. facilitate systematic compliance with ADB’s policies;
6. recommend environmentally responsible procurement; and
7. strengthen public consultation and participation as an integral component of environmental assessment and management.

75. ADB will provide mandatory training for headquarters and resident mission staff on the new environment assessment guidelines, compliance with environmental measures during implementation, and other elements of the policy. ADB will also establish an effective mechanism for interdepartmental interaction and knowledge sharing through the environment committee and through internal networks along thematic and sector lines. Priority will also be given to further developing external networks for information sharing.

2. Compliance, Accountability, and Monitoring

76. The Regional and Sustainable Development Department has been created to (i) develop and monitor policies and guidelines for all thematic and sector areas, (ii) act as ADB’s center for compliance oversight, and (iii) support regionwide cooperation work and linkages with regional institutions.

77. The regional departments will be responsible for complying with the policy. ADB's chief compliance officer, supported by the Environment and Social Safeguard Division, will be responsible for monitoring compliance with ADB’s safeguard policies, and advising and assisting operations units. The chief compliance officer will advise ADB’s Management on safeguard policy issues and will continue to review projects’ compliance with ADB’s safeguard policies.

78. The Environment Committee will monitor policy implementation across the regional departments. Under the leadership of the Environment and Social Safeguard Division, the Environment Committee will develop a system for monitoring implementation of the environment policy and the medium term action plan, both ADB-wide and across the five regions. The system will include performance monitoring and reporting across regions, countries, and sectors.

79. The integration of environmental considerations in CSPs will be measured by the extent to which they (i) identify critical environmental issues facing development and poverty reduction in the country, and (ii) provide credible lending and nonlending responses to these issues. Overall performance in regard to ADB’s safeguard policies and procedures will be measured through the compliance monitoring system to be implemented by the Environment and Social Safeguard Division.