Contracts for Sustainable Infrastructure

Why Sustainability Should Be Integrated Into Infrastructure Contracts To enable and incentivize the amount of investment in sustainable infrastructure needed for the achievement of the SDGs, and to ensure and maximize the economic, social and environmental co-benefits of sustainable infrastructure, an enabling investment environment must be in place. [...] Including sustainability criteria in procurement would shift public financing toward sustainable infrastructure, indirectly influence the private sector by sending market signals that there is demand for sustainable infrastructure and setting the example, and increase the ability of the private sector to design, build and © 2014 The International Institute for Sustainable Development IISD.org. [...] The contract can embed incentives for the investor to prioritize the purchase of local or national goods and services, obligations regarding technology transfer and requirements to guarantee that the infrastructure project will be developed in an economically responsible manner, contributing to broader economic development of the beneficiary community and country. [...] Nor can national commitments to climate change mitigation and adaptation (in the context of the Paris Agreement), the promotion and protection of human rights and the achievement of other SDGs.