Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when his Department last made an assessment of the environmental effect of fossil fuel projects financed by his Department through the Private Infrastructure Development Group.

The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) prioritises investments in renewables wherever possible. PIDG does not have any active fossil fuel extraction projects, and PIDG’s strategy rules out any investments in coal.

PIDG conducts an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment on all projects before approving any investment. Each investment must comply with PIDG’s Environment, Social, Health and Safety standards, which are based on the internationally recognised International Finance Corporation Environment and Social Performance Standards. This includes minimum requirements in areas such as use of natural resources, biodiversity, labour standards and land resettlement.