OTTAWA - May 29, 2009 – Export Development Canada (EDC) is inviting comment on proposed revisions to its Environmental Policy, during a 90-day public comment period ending August 26, 2009.
EDC's Environmental Policy governs its environmental commitments and establishes the principles that are followed when assessing the environmental risks of transactions EDC is asked to support.
The review of environmental risk has been an integral part of EDC’s analysis of projects since the mid-1990s, before it became a formalized process in 1999. In 2001, EDC’s Environmental Review Directive established the systematic process that EDC follows when assessing the environmental impacts of projects it is asked to support.
In 2005, EDC launched a review of its environmental practices and policies, which led to the introduction of its current Environmental Policy.
EDC has developed a discussion paper highlighting the key issues under consideration during the Environmental Policy review. These include project benchmarking standards, community engagement, project conditions and monitoring, environmental reviews in high-income OECD countries, climate change and EDC’s environmental footprint.
More information on the review, including the discussion paper, is available at www.edc.ca.
EDC will also review aspects of EDC’s Disclosure Policy relating to the public release of environmental and social information.
Feedback from the public comment will be presented to EDC management, Advisory Council on CSR and Board of Directors for review. EDC will release a revised Environmental Policy in late 2009.
EDC is Canada’s export credit agency, offering innovative commercial solutions to help Canadian exporters and investors expand their international business. EDC’s knowledge and partnerships are used by more than 8,300 Canadian companies and their global customers in up to 200 markets worldwide each year. EDC is financially self-sustaining, a recognized leader in financial reporting and economic analysis, and has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for eight consecutive years.
Media contact:
Phil Taylor
Export Development Canada
Tel: (613) 598-2904
Blackberry: ptaylor@edc.ca
