The seventh annual conference of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank was held in Cape Town in March.
Climate change
Infrastructure
News
More fossil fuels and faith in the private sector
As part of its commitment to solve the global problems of energy poverty and climate change, in late March the World Bank and the European Investment Bank launched the Carbon Fund for Europe. However the Bank’s recent Implementation of the Management Response to the Extractive Industries Review 2006 reveals an alarming rise in its fossil fuel operations and show that little progress has been made on its environment and development indicators.
Land
News
IFC: Cowboys in the Amazon
In March the IFC approved $90 million towards a $424 million expansion and modernisation programme for Brazil's leading beef and leather processor Bertin Ltda.
Infrastructure
News
Press release: Development banks claim to tackle climate and energy crisis while funding fossil fuel
Press release by CEE Bankwatch Network, Greenpeace International and Oil Change International
Environment
News
European governments told ‘put your money where your mouth is’ when committing new funds
Campaigners across Europe are telling governments to threaten to withhold funds from the World Bank unless specific changes are made to policy and practice.
Environment
Background
Highlights of meeting with Tom Scholar and UK NGOs
Highlights of meeting between Tom Scholar and UK NGOs, December 2006
Environment
News
Global energy solutions bank on carbon trading
In the midst of climate talks in Nairobi and the release of the Stern review on the potential catastrophic economic impacts of climate change, the World Bank has been touting the most recent draft of its investment framework on clean energy and development, and stepping up its role in devising market-based solutions to climate change. Critics have decried the hypocrisy of the Bank's role in funding fossil fuel projects, and the perverse rationale behind carbon trading
Environment
News
World Bank energy policy under scrutiny
A new report published by a coalition of international environment and development non-governmental organisations concludes that the World Bank's promise to seriously support alternative energy sources remains unfulfilled.
Environment
News
Sustainability dismantled
World Bank president Wolfowitz announces his move to disband the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) network within the Bank. It will be merged with the Bank's infrastructure department and report to the current head of the infrastructure department, Kathy Sierra.
Environment
News
World Bank and climate change: power failure
Summary of a report by Friends of the Earth US, the November meeting in London on climate change and the UK parliamentary early day motion to end UK support for harmful oil subsidies.
Featured briefings
12 December 2024
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2024
12 December 2024
Missing in action: accountability is noticeably absent from the World Bank Group’s new Corporate Scorecard
The Corporate Scorecard’s accountability gap is symptomatic of a broader failure on the part of the WBG to fully internalise, integrate and learn from the work of its accountability mechanisms.
16 October 2024