EP13 From Protest to Policy: The Evolution of Environmental and Social Safeguards

Environmental and social safeguards did not start as box-ticking exercises. They were created in response to protest, public outrage, and real damage caused by development projects financed by international institutions.In this solo episode of The TNo Nonsense Sustainability, I break down how safeguard standards at International Financial Institutions came to be, the projects and protests that forced change, and why these policies still matter today. I also share my perspective on where safeguards are struggling, what is being watered down, and what their future needs to look like if they are going to protect people and the environment in a changing world.This episode is for anyone working in sustainability, development finance, policy, or accountability, or for those who want to understand how power, protest, and policy collide.