Equator Principles (EP4, 2020)
The Equator Principles (EP4, July 2020) are a voluntary benchmark adopted by financial institutions (EPFIs) to identify, assess and manage the E&S risk of Projects. They apply worldwide and in every sector to Project Finance Advisory Services and Project Finance at US$10 million or more, Project-Related Corporate Loans of at least US$50 million and two years, qualifying Bridge Loans, and Project-Related Refinance and Acquisition Finance. Ten Principles cover categorisation, assessment (human rights and climate risk included, with a Climate Change Risk Assessment and alternatives analysis above 100,000 tCO2e a year), the applicable standards (IFC Performance Standards and World Bank EHS Guidelines outside Designated Countries), the ESMS, ESMP and Equator Principles Action Plan, stakeholder engagement and FPIC, grievance mechanisms, independent review, covenants, independent monitoring, and reporting; Annex A (climate alternatives, GHG quantification and reporting) and Annex B (EPFI minimum reporting) are integral. EPFIs had to implement EP4 by 1 October 2020.
Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) is a compliance framework from International (Equator Principles Association) with 5 domains and 12 controls that map to 6 other frameworks. The largest domains are Equator Principles - Management and Stakeholder Engagement (3 controls), Equator Principles - Scope and Assessment (3 controls), Annexes: implementation requirements – Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) (2 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (5)
Annexes: implementation requirements – Equator Principles (EP4, 2020)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| equator-principles-ep4-2020::A | Annex A: Climate change: alternatives analysis, quantification and reporting of GHG emissions |
| equator-principles-ep4-2020::B | Annex B: Minimum reporting requirements |
Equator Principles - Management and Stakeholder Engagement
Equator Principles - Monitoring and Reporting
Equator Principles - Review and Loan Documentation
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with Equator Principles (EP4, 2020), you already cover:
CSRD
25%
3 controls mapped
Compare →TCFD Recommendations
17%
2 controls mapped
Compare →UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs)
17%
2 controls mapped
Compare →+ 3 more: ISO 27018:2019 (8%), ISO 27002:2022 (8%)
See all 6 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 6 other frameworks
Coverage is not the same as your position
This page shows what Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) overlaps with in general. Where your organisation actually stands, against the standard you are going for and the certifications you already hold, is a different question. Same graph and the same recorded refutations, scoped to you rather than to a pair.
The Compliance Position Diagnostic, $5,000 fixed, ten business daysWhat is Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) and who does it apply to?
Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) is a compliance framework from International (Equator Principles Association) with 5 domains and 12 controls. The Equator Principles (EP4, July 2020) are a voluntary benchmark adopted by financial institutions (EPFIs) to identify, assess and manage the E&S risk of Projects. They apply worldwide and in every sector to Project Finance Advisory Services and Project Finance at US$10 million or more, Project-Related Corporate Loans of at least US$50 million and two years, qualifying Bridge Loans, and Project-Related Refinance and Acquisition Finance. Ten Principles cover categorisation, assessment (human rights and climate risk included, with a Climate Change Risk Assessment and alternatives analysis above 100,000 tCO2e a year), the applicable standards (IFC Performance Standards and World Bank EHS Guidelines outside Designated Countries), the ESMS, ESMP and Equator Principles Action Plan, stakeholder engagement and FPIC, grievance mechanisms, independent review, covenants, independent monitoring, and reporting; Annex A (climate alternatives, GHG quantification and reporting) and Annex B (EPFI minimum reporting) are integral. EPFIs had to implement EP4 by 1 October 2020. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) actually require?
Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) has 12 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Equator Principles - Management and Stakeholder Engagement (3 controls), Equator Principles - Scope and Assessment (3 controls), Annexes: implementation requirements – Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) (2 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) do I already cover?
Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) maps to 6 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are CSRD (25% coverage), TCFD Recommendations (17% coverage), UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) (17% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement Equator Principles (EP4, 2020)?
Start your Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Equator Principles (EP4, 2020) requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 12 controls and track your progress.
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