Summary
Details
- Global
SuRe is not legally mandatory.
It can become practically required where:
A lender requires SuRe verification.
A project sponsor commits to it.
A public procurement process references it.
A development finance institution expects it.
An investor requires sustainable infrastructure evidence.
A public-private partnership agreement includes it.
In most cases, SuRe is voluntary and used to guide, assess or verify sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
Deep dive
- What’s Required
- 1. Use of the SuRe Standard
- 2. Third-party verification
- 3. Sustainability and resilience themes
- 4. Multi-stakeholder development
- 5. Infrastructure project finance relevance
- Important Deadlines
- Current Status
- Penalties for Non-Compliance
- 1. Verification refusal
- 2. Financing consequences
- 3. Procurement consequences
- 4. Reputational risk
- 5. Project risk
- Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
- Resources
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What’s Required
1. Use of the SuRe Standard
SuRe provides guidance and a globally applicable common language for integrating sustainability and resilience into infrastructure development and upgrades.
Project teams may need to assess:
Infrastructure sustainability performance.
Climate resilience.
Governance.
Social risks and benefits.
Environmental impacts.
Resource efficiency.
Economic viability.
Stakeholder engagement.
Long-term project durability.
2. Third-party verification
SuRe is described as a third-party-verified standard.
This means project teams should prepare:
Project documentation.
Sustainability evidence.
Resilience assessment.
Environmental and social information.
Governance data.
Technical project details.
Verification responses.
Supporting calculations and reports.
3. Sustainability and resilience themes
World Economic Forum materials state that SuRe includes 61 criteria across 14 themes and integrates sustainability and resilience into infrastructure development and upgrades.
Relevant themes can include:
Climate resilience.
Environmental protection.
Resource efficiency.
Social inclusion.
Human rights and labor.
Biodiversity.
Governance.
Risk management.
Community engagement.
Economic sustainability.
4. Multi-stakeholder development
GIB describes SuRe as developed through a multi-stakeholder approach incorporating inputs from developed and emerging nations.
This matters because SuRe is intended to be usable across different country contexts, including emerging market infrastructure.
5. Infrastructure project finance relevance
SuRe is designed for project developers, financiers and public-sector institutions. It supports the integration of sustainability and resilience into the project lifecycle.
It can support:
Due diligence.
Bankability discussions.
Public procurement.
Project appraisal.
Sustainable infrastructure pipelines.
Climate adaptation finance.
ESG reporting.
Stakeholder confidence.
Important Deadlines
SuRe is voluntary, so there is no universal legal deadline.
Important timing points:
Timing depends on project development stage, documentation, assessment, and verification.
SuRe can be used during development and upgrade of infrastructure projects.
Project teams should confirm the current version and verification availability before using SuRe in procurement or finance.
SuRe has been referenced by OECD and WEF as a sustainable infrastructure standard.
Current Status
SuRe remains a recognized voluntary global sustainable infrastructure standard. GIB describes it as third-party-verified and globally applicable, serving infrastructure project developers, financiers, and public-sector institutions.
Current status:
Voluntary global infrastructure standard.
Developed by Global Infrastructure Basel Foundation.
Third-party-verified.
Focused on sustainability and resilience.
Developed through a multi-stakeholder process.
Relevant to infrastructure development and upgrades.
Used as a common language for project developers, financiers, and public institutions.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
SuRe does not impose statutory penalties.
Possible consequences include:
1. Verification refusal
A project may fail to receive verification if evidence or performance is insufficient.
2. Financing consequences
If SuRe is tied to financing, lenders' or investors' conditions, failure may affect access to capital.
3. Procurement consequences
If SuRe is referenced in tenders or public-private partnerships, failure may affect eligibility.
4. Reputational risk
Sustainable and resilient infrastructure claims may be challenged without verification.
5. Project risk
Weak resilience and sustainability planning can create long-term operational, climate, and community risks.
Examples of Known Violations / Failure Modes
Typical failure modes include:
Claiming SuRe verification before completion.
Treating SuRe as a legal permit.
Weak climate resilience evidence.
Incomplete social or environmental data.
Poor stakeholder engagement.
Ignoring lifecycle risks.
Overstating infrastructure sustainability benefits.
Not aligning project scope with the standard.
Making finance claims beyond verified performance.
Failing to update project documentation after design changes.
Treating SuRe as interchangeable with local legal compliance.
Confusing SuRe infrastructure standard with SURE-EU biomass certification.
Resources
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