While donors and the World Bank focus on IDA structural reform, the proposed IDA shift towards financing infrastructure and climate adaptation raises concerns over development impacts.
Climate change
Environment
News
Carbon capture
The World Bank has revealed details of its new climate change strategy, including promotion of carbon markets despite concerns from indigenous groups. While new conversations about the Bank's energy investments are anticipated, further criticisms were made over its involvement in fossil fuels and hydropower projects
IFI governance
News
World Bank's safeguards review extended
The first phase of the Bank's safeguard review has been extended to mid-April with global consultations planned, including on seven emerging areas.
Accountability
News
A forest of failures
A leaked copy of an evaluation of the Bank's forest strategy criticises the Bank's failure to address social and environmental goals. Further criticism has also been raised over the Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).
Environment
News
Getting its hands dirty
As the World Bank president became more vocal about climate change, concerns remain about the Bank's involvement in fossil fuels, including projects in Mongolia and Central Asia, and questions have been raised about its accountability for hydro projects in India and Guatemala.
Environment
Commentary
Bankspeak of the year 2012
Every year the Bretton Woods Project celebrates the best specimens of incomprehensible jargon and ridiculous rhetoric issued by World Bank and IMF staff and financial commentators in the cause of IFI business.
Rights
Background
UK civil society meeting with UK World Bank Executive Director Gwen Hines
Notes of a meeting with UK executive director to the World Bank Gwen Hines in December 2012
Rights
News
Safe in Bank hands? World Bank safeguards review launched
The World Bank finally launched the two-year review of its environmental and social safeguard policies in October.
Accountability
News
Call for freeze on World Bank 'land grabs'
As Oxfam called on the World Bank to freeze large scale land acquisitions, the Bank's new agriculture strategy remained under wrap. Concerns have also been raised about ongoing initiatives on 'climate-smart agriculture' and the development of Doing Business in Agriculture.
Environment
News
World Bank and climate change
A new Bank report warns about the impacts of climate change, but concerns have been raised about its own track record. While the Bank has increased its renewable energy share, its continued funding of fossil fuels and focus on large scale dams remain controversial.
Featured briefings
6 April 2022
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8 November 2021
IMF surveillance and climate change transition risks
New briefing by ActionAid USA and the Bretton Woods Project highlights research showing that IMF policy advice has undermined a just energy transition since the Paris Agreement was signed.