Bridges China Dialogue

Senior Environmental Adviser, European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD)

Robert Coyle has worked for the last 14 years as Senior Environmental Adviser with the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD). Throughout this period, he has focused on environmental & sustainability issues on a wide range of projects covering infrastructure, general industry, oil and gas and mining in all of the 28 countries where the Bank operates in Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Former Soviet Union (FSU).  Prior to joining the Bank he spent five years with a large international environmental consultancy where he worked in China, India and South America.
 
The EBRD is the largest single investor in the region. Respect for the environment is part of the strong corporate governance attached to all Bank investments and all EBRD-financed projects must meet the Bank’s core operating principles of additionality, transition impact and sound banking.  In addition, the Bank recognises that financing sustainable development amongst the highest priorities of the EBRD’s activities.  Despite its 62 public sector shareholders, it invests mainly in private enterprises, usually together with commercial partners.