At the EBRD, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do.
The Sustainability Report focuses on three key aspects of our sustainability approach and work – impact, assurance and engagement. Within these three areas, you will find detailed information about our sustainability projects and initiatives over the last year.
Awards
The annual EBRD Sustainability Awards recognise the efforts of clients who have demonstrated excellence and a commitment beyond the Bank’s performance requirements for managing environmental and social issues, promoting energy efficiency or combating climate change.
Chernobyl:
30 years on
One of our highlights of 2016 was the successful completion of a key stage of the transformation of the Chernobyl site. The giant New Safe Confinement (NSC) arch was moved over a distance of 327 metres from its assembly point to its final resting place, completely enclosing a temporary shelter that was assembled immediately after the 1986 accident. This is a key milestone before the finalisation of the international programme to transform Chernobyl into an environmentally safe and secure site by November 2017. This globally acknowledged achievement is the culmination of many years of sustained support from the EBRD – the Bank has managed the Chernobyl Shelter Fund since 1997 and is the largest contributor to the project.
Find out more about our work and impact in Chernobyl:
Refugee response
Joining international efforts to tackle the refugee crisis caused by the civil war in Syria, in 2016 the EBRD announced a financing package of up to €900 million to support private sector and infrastructure projects in Turkey and Jordan, which host some 2.8 million and 1.4 million Syrian refugees, respectively. Over €70 million, alongside €50 million of grants, has already been allocated to both long- and short-term projects, as the scope of the crisis demanded immediate action. The EBRD will prioritise investments in municipal infrastructure to alleviate the pressure on public services such as water and sanitation, solid waste and urban transport. It will also seek to promote the growth and performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in affected communities with financing, advisory support and risk-sharing facilities. The third priority area under the plan is working with the private sector to boost access to employment and skills through projects that foster economic inclusion and gender equality.