FAST-Infra Sustainable Infrastructure Label: Framework

The FAST-Infra Sustainable Infrastructure Label (SI Label) is a voluntary framework designed to identify infrastructure assets that demonstrate significant positive sustainability performance. To qualify, an asset must meet baseline standards—primarily the IFC Performance Standards—and show a significant positive contribution to at least one of 14 sustainability criteria across four dimensions: environmental, social, governance, and adaptation & resilience. The framework mandates environmental and social safeguards, including the use of the Equator Principles 4 and the publication of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA). It requires a structured process of declaration, disclosure, and reporting, and strongly encourages an independent external review to ensure market integrity and investor confidence.

• The SI Label is a voluntary, globally applicable designation for infrastructure assets that can be applied at any lifecycle stage, from planning and design to operation and decommissioning.
• To be eligible for the SI Label, an asset must satisfy two primary conditions: it must meet baseline requirements (intended to 'do no significant harm') and demonstrate a significant positive contribution to at least one sustainability objective.
• The framework defines four dimensions of sustainability with 14 associated criteria: Environmental, Social, Governance, and Adaptation & Resilience, which align with the Paris Agreement, the SDGs, and the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII).
• Minimum safeguards are mandatory for the SI Label, requiring adherence to the 2012 IFC Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability and the July 2020 Equator Principles 4, or more stringent local/national laws.
• Assets seeking the label are expected to produce and publish several key risk and management documents, including an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), a Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment, and a Sustainability Mitigation & Action Plan.
• The framework mandates a two-stage disclosure process: an 'initiation stage' involving self-declaration and impact reports, followed by 'subsequent disclosures' including annual declarations of alignment and periodic impact reports based on whether the asset is pre-operational or operational.
• While not mandatory for self-declaration, an external independent review by a technically expert institution is strongly encouraged as market good practice to provide assurance and trust.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2021). FAST-Infra Sustainable Infrastructure Label: Framework. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FAST-Infra-SI-Framework_FINAL-271021.pdf

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. FAST-Infra Sustainable Infrastructure Label: Framework. 2021. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FAST-Infra-SI-Framework_FINAL-271021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=FAST-Infra Sustainable Infrastructure Label: Framework |date=1 November 2021 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FAST-Infra-SI-Framework_FINAL-271021.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2021fastinfra, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{FAST-Infra Sustainable Infrastructure Label: Framework}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/FAST-Infra-SI-Framework_FINAL-271021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }