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.
Environment
Accountability
News
CAO to facilitate dispute resolution over Chad-Cameroon pipeline
In November, the Compliance Advisor/ Ombudsman (CAO), the accountability mechanism for the Bank's private sector arm, published its assessment of a 2011 complaint from a Chadian group of NGOs on behalf of local inhabitants and communities affected by a pipeline in Chad.
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.
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
IFC's Oyu Tolgoi mine prompts complaint
In October, Mongolian herdsmen took a complaint to the Compliance Advisor/Ombudsman, the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) accountability mechanism, against the Oyu Tolgoi mine being considered for World Bank support.
Accountability
Background
Climate Investment Funds Monitor survey
The Bretton Woods Project launched the twice-yearly Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) Monitor in 2010 to track the development of the CIFs and highlight concerns. As it approaches our third year, we would like your input into how we can improve the CIFs Monitor to ensure that it remains a valuable resource for civil society and other interested stakeholders of the CIFs.
Environment
Analysis
Climate Investment Funds Monitor 6
The Climate Investment Funds (CIFs) are financing instruments designed to pilot low-carbon and climate-resilient development through the multilateral development banks (MDBs). They are comprised of two trust funds - the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF).
Environment
Lessons from Panel cases: reflections for the Bank's safeguards review
Download Alf Jerve's presentation
Infrastructure
Background
Post Fukushima: The Role of the Financial Sector in Energy Future
This session introduced the audience to an overview of global energy issues and specific analyses of the environment and economic impacts of Fukushima nuclear power accident, and discussed the roles of the financial sector in viable global energy future.
Land
Background
Halting the global land rush: protecting land rights and promoting food security
This event discussed how to invest in agriculture in a responsible way, including research on the scale of the global rush for land, and explored potential solutions to the problem, including the role that the World Bank can and must play.
Featured briefings
6 April 2022
The Bretton Woods Observer: Spring 2022
8 December 2021
The Bretton Woods Observer: Winter 2021
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.