This presentation was held during the 5th GIB Summit, May 27-28 2015. The presentation and more information on the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation are available on www.gib-foundation.org

The next GIB Summit will take place in Basel, May 24-25, 2016.

 

The information and views set out in this presenation are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation. Neither the Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation nor any person acting on its behalf may be held responsible for the use of the information contained therein.  

Standard for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure – SuRe STANDARD Katharina Schneider-Roos, Deputy Executive Director, Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation Delphine Riou, SRI Analyst, Natixis

Opportunities: Challenges: Ø  Increasing need for reliable

infrastructure. Ø  Investors have pressure to

integrate sustainable development themes into their investment decisions and demonstrate that capital is being allocated responsibly across asset classes.

Ø  Need to engage more private sector capital in emerging markets.

Ø  How to measure sustainability and resilience?

Ø  How to change short-sighted investment decisions?

Ø  How to implement a common understanding of sustainability and resilience in infrastructure projects?

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SuRe Standard

Goal -  Create a common understanding of sustainable

and resilient infrastructure -  Bridge the gap to finance

Unique -  Holistic -  Globally applicable (regionally and culturally

tested, multi-stakeholder approach, focus on emerging markets)

-  Cross-sectorial Strength

-  Project based (early stage) -  Inclusive, independent, voluntary private

standard -  Compliance with ISEAL requirements -  Efficient, accessible -  Comparability of projects (various sectors) -  Transparent (third party verified)

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Target audience

Public sector •  Decision support tool for sustainable/resilient projects •  Innovative procurement

Asset managers, Asset owners, Insurance companies •  Common language and a measurable tool for investors

and advisors to evaluate resilience and sustainability in infrastructure.

•  Offering new product opportunities for asset managers to attract investors seeking socially responsible and overall sustainable and resilient investments.

•  Open new business opportunities: SRI-screened funds

Banks active in infrastructure finance •  Highlight the sustainability value of their infrastructure

debt portfolios

Operators/Infrastructure companies •  Labelled projects will attract more investments •  Label will strengthen their reputation and

sustainability profile.

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Why a standard ?

•  Natixis: serving Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) financial community

•  SRI research: recognised expertise, Extel ranking •  Asset management and responsible investment division

(Mirova): second largest European manager of open-ended SRI funds

•  Project finance and infrastructure: renewable MLA of the year (2013), signatory to Equator Principals.

•  A standard will help infrastructure stand out as responsible asset class par excellence

•  Infrastructure asset class – providing essential services – acclaimed by SRI investors (7% invested in infrastructure asset class >average 2% in investor’s portfolio)

•  Will enable them to take a more active role (from fund of funds to direct investments)

•  Bulk of initiatives help infrastructure play a major role in energy transition (COP 21 context, Juncker plan)

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Why a standard ?

•  Standard will raise the bar in terms of impacts

•  An excellent complementary approach to Equator Principals

•  Take into account benefits not only risks •  Enhance global sustainability, covering OECD and

non OECD countries •  Set benchmark values against which projects can be

evaluated •  Avoid the fifty shades of green (green bonds)

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