The Export Credits Guarantee Department and Sustainable Development

The Export Credits Guarantee Department and Sustainable Development PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215523907
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
Since last investigated in 2003, the Export Credits Guarantee Department has continued to make progress on sustainable development that deserves to be recognised. Sound foundations have been laid and mechanisms put in place that offer a good framework for further action. There is still room for improvement in the way sustainable development is incorporated into the agency's decision-making and the ECGD must ensure its activities are in line with wider Government aspirations on sustainable development. The challenge is for the ECGD to demonstrate that sustainable development is given appropriate weight within its current remit and that it does nothing that would actively undermine this principle. In particular, the ECGD should identify areas where its environmental standards could be tightened. More rigorous standards can then be applied across its portfolio, including to aerospace exports. The ECGD must improve the transparency of its assessment processes and increase the level of disclosure of project information. It is important that the department does more to attract renewable energy and other projects that support sustainable development; support from Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) will be vital in taking this forward. The ECGD's approach to sustainable development is all the more important because of its ability to influence and raise standards internationally. A bolder approach from the ECGD on sustainable development issues and transparency will be vital in improving the performance of Export Credit Agencies in general.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department and Sustainable Development

The Export Credits Guarantee Department and Sustainable Development PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215523907
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 128

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Book Description
Since last investigated in 2003, the Export Credits Guarantee Department has continued to make progress on sustainable development that deserves to be recognised. Sound foundations have been laid and mechanisms put in place that offer a good framework for further action. There is still room for improvement in the way sustainable development is incorporated into the agency's decision-making and the ECGD must ensure its activities are in line with wider Government aspirations on sustainable development. The challenge is for the ECGD to demonstrate that sustainable development is given appropriate weight within its current remit and that it does nothing that would actively undermine this principle. In particular, the ECGD should identify areas where its environmental standards could be tightened. More rigorous standards can then be applied across its portfolio, including to aerospace exports. The ECGD must improve the transparency of its assessment processes and increase the level of disclosure of project information. It is important that the department does more to attract renewable energy and other projects that support sustainable development; support from Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) will be vital in taking this forward. The ECGD's approach to sustainable development is all the more important because of its ability to influence and raise standards internationally. A bolder approach from the ECGD on sustainable development issues and transparency will be vital in improving the performance of Export Credit Agencies in general.

Any of Our Business?

Any of Our Business? PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. Joint Committee on Human Rights
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780108459139
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
Businesses must have regard to human rights in several different contexts. Difficulties may arise if there are weaker governance mechanisms for protecting human rights overseas, or if firms take different approaches to the protection of certain human rights in the UK and elsewhere. This report considers a complex range of issues, starting from the position that the UK should play a leadership role to ensure that all firms respect human rights wherever they operate. The work of the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations is welcome but the Committee would support clearer guidance for meeting obligations. The OECD also has guidelines on multinational enterprises as monitored by National Contact Points. The UK National Contact Point, though much improved, still falls short of the necessary criteria and powers needed by an effective remedial body. The Committee argues that an international agreement on business and human rights should be the ultimate objective, although they accept that no such agreement is likely in the near future. There is considerable scope for joint working on a regional level and globally to agree a consistent approach to business and human rights and the Committee believes that the UK Government could do more to explain the responsibility on businesses to respect human rights and the standard of due diligence this entails

Sustainable Development Reporting by Government Departments

Sustainable Development Reporting by Government Departments PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215029478
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
The regular annual report, the Sustainable Development in Government report, covering the whole of central government on environmental and sustainable development issues, is seen as a success in the "greening government" initiative since 1997, along with the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate. Reporting by individual departments is less satisfactory. The Framework contains targets for departments on public reporting of their sustainable development impacts, but they are neither demanding nor specific. Some significant areas of departmental activity fall outside the parameters for sustainable development reporting, for example involvement in PFI contracts, and the Committee wants departments to be able to report on these matters. The UK Sustainable Development Strategy required all departments and executive agencies to produce an annual Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) by December 2005. The Committee is disappointed that 14 departments and agencies did not meet this deadline. The Committee would like SDAPs to be published alongside the departmental annual reports in the spring. This report also includes, as an annex (p. 11-41), the National Audit Office briefing, detailing the findings of its review of annual sustainable development reporting by UK government departments in 2004.

Export Credits Guarantee Department and Sustainable Development

Export Credits Guarantee Department and Sustainable Development PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780215012029
Category : Export credit
Languages : en
Pages : 25

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Book Description
There are 76 export credit agencies (ECAs) in 61 countries, usually Government-sponsored agencies that use taxpayers' money to promote domestic companies in export markets by offering a degree of protection from political and commercial risks. The ECA for the United Kingdom, the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), is among the largest and most influential ECAs in the world. The Committee's report examines the extent to which ECGD has successfully incorporated a commitment to sustainable development and multilateral action into its policies and operations and to identify the scope for further integration of sustainable development principles.

The Sustainable Development Strategy: Written and oral evidence

The Sustainable Development Strategy: Written and oral evidence PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215020185
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 210

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Book Description
sustainable development Strategy : Illusion or reality?, thirteenth report of session 2003-04, Vol. 2: Written and oral Evidence

The Sustainable Development Strategy: Report together with formal minutes

The Sustainable Development Strategy: Report together with formal minutes PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215020178
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Book Description
Incorrect session years, 2002-03, given on title page

The World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002

The World Summit on Sustainable Development 2002 PDF Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215022400
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 52

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Book Description
This is a follow-up to the Committees report (HCP 98, session 2002-03, ISBN 021501328X) which looked at the outcome of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which took place in Johannesburg in 2002. This report examines the UK implementation of the WDC commitments. A briefing by the National Audit Office (included in this report) reviews the co-operation between the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the UN Sustainable Development Commission (SDC). The WSSD Table of Commitments should be regarded as a delivery mechanism, even though it was not drafted clearly enough. UK Government departments should incorporate WSSD commitments more vigorously into their departmental activities, and there should be more comprehensive and frequent progress reports for the benefit of Parliament, the general public, and the SDC.

Trade, development and environment

Trade, development and environment PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215034199
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description
The Environmental Audit Committee established a sub-committee to explore concerns that Government policy on trade and development was not adequately incorporating the need for sustainable development and environmental protection. The series of inquiries have scrutinised DFID, the WTO and UK trade policy, the Government's response to the United Nations Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. This is the final inquiry and it looks at the role of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in delivering international environmental objectives. Although it is not often the lead department it has a role in building international support for policy objectives and it also has direct responsibility, with DFID, towards the environment in UK Overseas Territories. The report looks at: FCO policy; FCO capacity on the environment; international environment strategy; setting an example; UK Overseas Territories.

Are biofuels sustainable?

Are biofuels sustainable? PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Environmental Audit Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215038166
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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Book Description
Are biofuels Sustainable? : First report of session 2007-08, Vol. 2: Oral and written Evidence

Any of our business? Human rights and the UK private sector

Any of our business? Human rights and the UK private sector PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: Joint Committee on Human Rights
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780108459511
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 68

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Book Description
Government response to HL 5-I/HC64-I, session 2009-10 (ISBN 9780108459139)