Planning & Assessment
Securing project approvals and financing across Asia Pacific
Securing project approvals and financing across Asia Pacific requires both regulatory expertise and an understanding of international lender standards. ESC manages EIA and ESIA processes in alignment with country-specific requirements and the standards that financing institutions require, coordinating across technical disciplines and regulatory frameworks to maintain project continuity across borders.
As one of Asia Pacific’s largest locally owned and privately held environmental, health & safety, & sustainability consultancies, ESC works with project developers and investors across the region. We deliver environmental and social assessments—whether EIA, ESIA, or lender-aligned studies—built to the standard that regulatory authorities and financing institutions require.
Projects moving through planning and environmental review often require coordination across multiple technical disciplines, regulatory expectations, and financing standards. Our environmental & social impact assessment consultants support projects requiring Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Environmental & Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), IFC-aligned studies, and environmental due diligence for lenders and investors. Where local regulatory requirements and international lender standards differ, we identify the gap early and structure the assessment programme to satisfy both, saving projects time and money. We operate as one accountable team from start to finish, so that the work remains internally consistent, defensible, and calibrated to what authorities and lenders require.
The depth ESC brings in-house distinguishes how assessments are developed and delivered. Air quality, ecology, social impact, hydrology, and geospatial analysis are all handled within the same team, maintaining consistency across disciplines and supporting sound project decision-making at each stage of development.
Our Approach
Our work follows a structured process that moves from early-stage scoping through to approval and post-approval support.
- Scoping aligned with regulatory and lender requirements
- Baseline data collection and technical studies
- Impact assessment and mitigation planning
- Stakeholder engagement and documentation
- Submission to authorities and support during review
This approach allows a single assessment process to support both domestic approvals and international financing requirements.
Our Technical Capabilities
Scoping and Due Diligence
- Screening projects for environmental and social risk and impacts (air, water, biodiversity, labour, community impacts)
- Gap analysis between local EIA/Permitting and International Lenders
- Scoping of Lender's requirements (World Bank, ADB and IFC) Performance Standards Reviews
- Labour and Human Rights Due Diligence
- Resettlement and Livelihood Assessment
- Environmental and Social Management Plans and Action Plans
Environmental and Social Assessments and Approvals
- Local and international specialists in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine surveys and assessments
- GIS and spatial analysis services
- Environmental, Social, and Human Rights Impact Assessments (EIA/ESIA/HRIA/AMDAL) and studies aligned with country-specific regulations
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Permitting strategy, approval pathways, and government authority engagement
Lender and Investor
Advisory
- ESDD for Acquisition and Divestitures
- Assessment for Project Finance including Equator Principles and UN Global Compact Ten Principles
- Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (EIAs and ESIAs)
- E&S Management System, E&S Culture, Gap Analysis, and Benchmarking
- Responsible Investment Advisory
- Post-investment ESG Portfolio Management
Post-Approval Compliance and Monitoring
- Environmental and social management and monitoring plans
- Compliance tracking and reporting
- Support during construction and operational phases
- Project and Program scale evaluation and audits
Working across Asia Pacific, where approvals are not one-size-fits-all.
Each country in Asia Pacific has different regulations.
Approval pathways, authority expectations, submission formats, and timelines vary across jurisdictions such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
ESC has environmental and social consultants based across these jurisdictions, working directly with local regulators and stakeholders.
This allows assessments to be scoped around specific authority requirements and submissions to be managed in ways that reduce clarification requests and post-submission delays.
For internationally financed projects, we align local regulatory approvals with lender requirements from the outset.
This avoids duplicate studies, addresses environmental and social risks early in the project lifecycle, and delivers budget and timeline efficiencies for our clients.
Supporting projects across a wide range of sectors and developments
Bringing together regional expertise
Built for Asia Pacific delivery
ESC has established teams across Asia Pacific’s key jurisdictions, with local knowledge of how regulatory frameworks, authority expectations, and submission requirements differ across countries.
Practical, submission-ready outputs
Our assessments are thorough, submission-ready, and developed to address what regulators and lenders ask during review, with fewer clarification requests as a result.
Aligned with regulators and lenders
Our assessments are designed to satisfy both local authority requirements and international financing standards, reducing the risk of duplication and supporting more efficient project delivery.
In-house technical depth
ESC’s multidisciplinary team covers air quality, ecology, hydrology, social impact, and geospatial analysis within a single practice, ensuring consistency and accountability from scoping through to approval.
Contact Us
Whether you are initiating a new development, preparing for permitting, or conducting due diligence on an asset, we can support you in navigating environmental approvals across Asia Pacific.
