One of the most contentious issues under discussion in current climate change debates is how to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) by ensuring protection of the world's rainforests. Mrinalini Rai of the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change argues that this initiative, heavily backed by the World Bank among others, raises questions about how to ensure fair compensation to those developing countries that undertake a commitment to such reductions.
Forests
Infrastructure
News
FCPF still lacks safeguards and participation
In mid March the committee of participants for the Forest Carbon Partnership Fund (FCPF)met. The Bank Information Center expressed concerns that FCPF process is occurring "without any significant participation by indigenous peoples or civil society".
Environment
News
Inadequate implementation of IFC standards
Two new resources have been released by the Forest Peoples Programme.
Environment
Background
Carbon Finance and the World Bank
World Bank funding of carbon financing
IFI governance
Background
UK NGO meeting with the Secretary of State for International Development, on the World Bank
Summary of meeting: the main agenda items were (1) World Bank governance; and (2) Climate change.
Environment
News
'No regrets': The World Bank and climate change
The World Bank has just finished consultations on a new strategic framework for its climate change work, which has one common thread: a massively increased role for the Bank. Yet there is little reflection on the reasons why the Bank's record in this area is so poor, as detailed by a number of recent reports.
Environment
News
Bank pushes ahead on forest carbon market
In July, the Bank named the first 14 countries for the controversial Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
Environment
Commentary
Camisea and the World Bank: A lost opportunity to make things better
Several weeks ago the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank approved a loan for Camisea II in Peru, the project to export liquefied natural gas. Even though concerns had been raised about this project over environmental, social and now economic issues, the IFC did not hesitate to provide a loan for the Lot 56 consortium operated by Hunt Oil (Peru NLG).
Environment
News
Forest carbon facility: "more harm than good"?
As details emerge of the World Bank's new facility to pay countries for preventing deforestation, concerns about its operations and governance mount.
Land
News
Slaughtering the Amazon
A new report finds the World Bank culpable for the cattle industry's encroachment on the Amazon.