The Environmental and Social Performance Standards of the International Finance Coalition (IFC) define IFC clients’ responsibilities for managing the environmental and social risks of their projects. The Performance Standards provide guidance on how to identify risks and impacts and are designed to help avoid, mitigate and manage risks and impacts as a way of doing business in a more sustainable way. Since 2012, the Standards apply to all IFC clients whose projects go through IFC’s initial credit review process.

Parksmart is a rating system that defines, measures, and recognizes high-performing, sustainable garages. The system does not only measure performance but also offers a roadmap for innovative and solution-oriented strategies that advance sustainable mobility through smarter parking structure design, reduction of operational costs, improved energy efficiency, and better lighting and ventilation. The tool is available for new projects and existing structures. A pre-certification version is available to guide decision making on projects that wish to be certified in the future.

The IS Rating Scheme is Australia and New Zealand’s rating framework to assess the sustainability of the planning, design, construction and operation phases of infrastructure programs, projects, networks and assets. IS evaluates the sustainability performance of the quadruple bottom line (governance, economic, environmental and social) of infrastructure development. Several manuals and resources are available, covering different phases of the infrastructure cycle, being the main ones IS Design & As Built v2.0 and IS Planning v2.0. The total score is calculated based on the points achieved in the different credits. Verification of the assessment result is undertaken by an independent third-party verifier.

The Infrastructure Voluntary Evaluation Sustainability Tool (INVEST) is a web-based self-evaluation tool to assess and enhance the environmental, social and economic sustainability of transportation projects. The tool aims to support a sustainable construction and maintenance of highways and other transportation projects to satisfy societal development and economic growth while enhancing the natural environment and reducing natural resource use. The tool offers four different modules throughout the life cycle: System Planning for States (SPS), System Planning for Regions (SPR), Project Development (PD) and Operations and Maintenance (OM). Each module is independent, measures sustainability across individual criteria and is evaluated separately.

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.

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.