“The Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) comprises: Vision, which sets out the aspirations of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) regarding environmental and social (E&S) sustainability; Environmental and Social Policy (E&S Policy), which sets out the mandatory responsibilities that apply to ADB; Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs), which set out the mandatory requirements that apply to borrowers/ clients; Requirements for Financing Modalities and Products, which set out the mandatory responsibilities that apply to ADB and mandatory requirements that apply to borrowers/clients for different financing modalities and products; and Prohibited Investment Activities List.

The 10 Environmental and Social Standards, which establish the performance standards that borrowers/clients and projects will meet throughout a project cycle, are as follows: Environmental and Social Standard 1 (ESS1): Assessment and Management of Environmental and Social Risks and Impacts; Environmental and Social Standard 2 (ESS2): Labor and Working Conditions; Environmental and Social Standard 3 (ESS3): Resource Conservation and Pollution Prevention; Environmental and Social Standard 4 (ESS4): Health, Safety, and Security; Environmental and Social Standard 5 (ESS5): Land Acquisition and Land Use Restriction; Environmental and Social Standard 6 (ESS6): Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resources Management; Environmental and Social Standard 7 (ESS7): Indigenous Peoples; (viii) Environmental and Social Standard 8 (ESS8): Cultural Heritage; Environmental and Social Standard 9 (ESS9): Climate Change; and (x) Environmental and Social Standard 10 (ESS10): Stakeholder Engagement and Information Disclosure.”