Environmental and Social (E&S) risks refer to the potential negative impacts of a project on ecosystems—such as air, water, and biodiversity—and on communities, including effects on livelihoods, health, labor rights, and cultural heritage.  These risks are central to global project risk management, as unaddressed E&S issues can lead to financial losses, legal liabilities, reputational damage, and project delays. Frameworks like the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards help financiers and developers identify, assess, and mitigate these risks, ensuring that development is not only economically viable but also sustainable and socially responsible. 

Guest Bio

Santiago Ribadeneira Falconi was born in Ecuador and came to Canada in 2018. He is an environmental and social advisor with almost 20 years of experience conducting environmental and social due diligence for large scale nuclear, mining, renewable, oil & gas, pulp & paper, sustainable forestry, and infrastructure across more than 20 countries.  He is currently the Principal of the Environmental and Social Risk Management division at Export Development Canada where he leads complex international project development transactions. He holds two undergrad degrees in biology and an environmental engineering. He also completed a master in environmental sciences and an MBA, and is correctly finalizing his third graduate program; a master of engineering in civil and mineral engineering at the University of Toronto.

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