The Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) is India’s national framework for the assessment of environmental impacts of built environments with an individual version applying to large developments (>50Ha) (GRIHA-LD) and one for Cities. For both versions, the net impact of built environments on quantitative and qualitative parameters is totaled and compared against a rating table, resulting in a sustainability certification. Thereby, the tool aims to support the reduction of detrimental impacts of built environments on ecological cycles and surroundings.

Green Star Communities assesses the planning, design and construction of large-scale development projects at a precinct, neighbourhood and / or community scale. The main purpose of the tool is to assess communities’ development attributes against best practice benchmarks across sustainability matters. Green Star Communities certification lasts a maximum of five years, after which the project can recertify. This allows projects to re-assess their approach, improve and be recognized for progress made in delivering on the ground. The Green Star Communities Project Inception Checklist provides guidance for early planning processes.

Autocase is a software that supports design and investment decision-making for built environments with economic metrics. The tool provides designers and project owners with a triple bottom line cost-benefit analysis for buildings and related infrastructure assets, helping to quantify and attribute dollar values to financial, social and environmental impacts of project proposals. The tool allows for comparison of multiple design goals and investment options as well as evaluation of health impacts, water and energy efficiency and renewable energy use and effects on tenants, owners and communities.

The Green Building Index (GBI) is Malaysia’s recognized green rating system to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise awareness about environmental issues and responsibility to future generations. The tool provides an opportunity for project developers and owners to improve green design and construction. The GBI assessment for townships assesses infrastructure projects’ sustainability at the scale of communities or small neighbourhoods. The evaluation process consists of a Planning Assessment, a Final Planning Assessment, resulting in a pre-certification, and a Completion & Verification Assessment, resulting in a final certification. To maintain the certification, reassessments are required every three years.

The Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) is a performance-based system developed for rating green buildings and infrastructures. The primary objective of GSAS is to create a sustainable built environment that minimizes ecological impacts and reduces resource use, considering the specific needs and context of the Middle East and North Africa regions (MENA). The system offers three different certifications: (1) GSAS Design & Build; (2) GSAS Construction Management; and (3) GSAS Operations. All certification procedures include an initial assessment followed by an audit.

The Equator Principles (EP) are a risk management framework for determining, assessing and managing environmental and social risk in projects that can be adopted by financial institutions. The tool provides a minimum standard for due diligence to support responsible risk decision-making. The EP apply globally, to all industry sectors and to four types of financial products: (1) project finance advisory services; (2) project finance; (3) project-related corporate loans; (4) bridge loans. Financial institutions can officially commit to the adoption of the EP.

The EO100™ Standard for Responsible Energy is a set of rigorous performance standards for energy development projects that was developed by the non-profit organization “Equitable Origin” based on a consensus from industry, NGOs, affected communities and government agencies to incentivize excellence in social and environmental performance of energy projects. The EO100™ Standard provides a framework to monitor on-the-ground performance as well as company-level policies. The tool confirms responsible business practices through independent verification with the option of a third-party certification.

Envision is a flexible system of criteria and performance objectives to aid decision makers and help project teams identify sustainable approaches during planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects that will continue throughout the project’s operations and maintenance and end-of-life phases. The Envision system consists of different components: (1) The Envision Pre-Assessment Checklist can be applied early-phase and used to prepare later sustainability assessments; (2) the Envision Online Scoresheet provides for a detailed online self-assessment; (3) the Envision Verification provides for an independent third-party project review process; (4) the Envision Awards offer recognition for qualifying verified projects.

The World Bank Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) sets out the World Bank’s commitment to sustainable development through a Bank Policy and a set of environmental and social standards that enable borrowers to better manage environmental and social risks of projects and to improve development outcomes. The tool offers an assessment of environmental and social risks and impacts of projects throughout the project life cycle in a systematic manner proportionate to the nature and scale of the project and the potential risks and impacts. Since 2018, the framework applies to all World Bank investment project financing.

The DGNB System for Districts is a planning and optimization tool which helps to create sustainable and livable districts. There are three types of certifications available across the project lifecycle: (1) a pre-certification for urban development plans, (2) a certificate for planning and development of projects that are at least 25% completed and (3) a final certificate for districts that are at least 75% completed. Assessments are undertaken by independent, DNGB-trained auditors. A final conformity check is undertaken by DGNB before the award of the certification.