This paper questions what the World Bank counts as clean energy and whether it reports on its energy lending in an accountable way. The concerns it highlights demonstrate the need for a far more rigorous and transparent approach, subject to independent monitoring.
Forests
Infrastructure
Background
Meeting on the World Bank with DFID
Notes of a meeting between Rachel Turner of DFID and UK NGOs, April 2010
Environment
News
Guyanese oppose REDD without consultation
Participants reviewing proposed low carbon development strategies and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation policies of the World Bank at a workshop on Indigenous peoples' rights, extractive industries and national development policies in Guyana, expressed dissatisfaction with the consultation process indicating that previous concerns were yet to be addressed.
Environment
Analysis
Climate Investment Funds Monitor 1
Donors have pledged $6.2 billion to the World Bank hosted Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) making them big players in current climate finance. The last three months have seen the Scaling Up Renewable Energy programme launched, new country investment plans endorsed by the Clean Technology Fund, and pilot countries selected for the Forest Investment Programme. A discussion paper, commissioned by the CIFs Administrative Unit has begun to look at lessons that can be learnt and incorporated in the rol
Environment
Background
CSO Townhall meeting
Notes from the CSO townhall meeting with Dominique Strauss-Kahn and Robert Zoellick
Environment
Background
Consultation meeting on World Bank environmental strategy
Summary of the first consultation on their new environment strategy, which they will develop next year.
Accountability
Background
Safeguard policies and performance standards
Originally drafted as internal operational policies to guide staff, World Bank safeguard policies evolved after pressure from environmental and social groups in the 1980s and were first officially implemented in 1998. They aim to protect people and the environment from the adverse effects of Bank-financed operations and are based on international agreements, even if these protections are not explicitly provided for in the borrower country's national law.
Accountability
News
Breaking the chains?
Violations of the IFC's performance standards in a palm oil project in Indonesia could have far reaching effects, drawing attention to the IFC's responsibility for the impact of whole supply chains as a review of their social and environmental standards gets under way.
Land
News
World Bank backs away from Bertin
A chorus of voices are celebrating the news that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) the private sector arm of the World Bank, has withdrawn a $90 million loan to the Brazilian cattle farming company Bertin
Environment
Background
The World Bank's programs on forests and climate change
A civil society event organised by World Resources Institute (WRI) at the World Bank spring meetings 2009
Featured briefings
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The Bretton Woods Observer: Summer 2024
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Is the World Bank rolling back commitments to citizen engagement, again?
Understanding the Bank’s chequered history with public, community and civil society participation is key for understanding what is at stake and what to do next.
3 June 2024
A way out for IMF reform
New paper analyses the IMF 16th Quota Review and identifies key governance reforms feasible in the current economic and geopolitical context.