The Environment

The Office of Investment Policy (OIP) ensures that OPIC-supported projects meet Congressionally-mandated requirements regarding protection of the environment, social impacts, health, and safety. The guidelines and procedures are based in large part on environmental and social impact assessment procedures applied by organizations such as the World Bank Group, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the U.S. Export Import Bank, among others.

OPIC's environmental policies and procedures are described in the OPIC OPIC Environmental Handbook . The OPIC Environmental Handbook is intended to provide guidance to OPIC’s investors, as well as the interested public, with respect to the environmental and social standards, assessment, and monitoring procedures that OPIC applies to prospective and ongoing investment projects. The most recent version of the OPIC Environmental Handbook was published in February 2004. OPIC is undertaking a major revision of this document to reflect current international best practice in environmental and social impact assessment.

OIP reviews all potential OPIC-supported projects. For details on the screening and review process, view the Summary of Environmental Procedures section of the OPIC Environmental Handbook.

Projects that are likely to have significant adverse environmental or social impacts that are sensitive, diverse, or unprecedented in the absence of mitigation measures are disclosed to the public for a comment period of 60 days. Click here to view the sensitive projects that are currently under consideration for OPIC support.