The World Bank - Climate Change - Six Things You Should Know About the World Bank Group and Climate Change

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Climate change is expected to hit developing countries the hardest. Its effects—higher temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and more frequent weather-related disasters—pose risks for agriculture, food, and water supplies. At stake are recent gains in the fight against poverty, hunger and disease, and the lives and livelihoods of billions of people in developing countries. Read More »

Six Things You Should Know About the World Bank Group and Climate Change

Climate change is a major and urgent development challenge affecting our client countries. Addressing this challenge is part of WBG’s core mandate of helping countries deal with poverty and move towards economic prosperity.

WBG adheres to the principles, policies and directions of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process and its principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The WBG respects the primacy of the UNFCCC process and supports its decisions and outcomes.

WBG contributes to UNFCCC negotiations by sharing relevant knowledge and experience. Our focus is on articulating the needs of developing countries. Particular attention is given to the impacts on the poorest and the most vulnerable groups.

WBG believes that a successful global climate agreement can and should open new economic opportunities for developing countries while fully recognizing their development needs. We support the developing countries’ need to access reliable, affordable and modern energy. The WBG believes that these countries require adequate assistance to adapt to inevitable changes in climate.

WBG calls on developed countries to demonstrate leadership in reducing their “carbon footprint” and transfer enabling finance and technology to developing countries.

The WBG supports its clients in undertaking actions with adaptation and mitigation benefits in the context of country-led development programs. The WBG assists developing countries with mobilizing and accessing finance, deploying new technology, and developing policy, knowledge and capacity.

World Bank Group at Work

Photo: Publication Cover

The short publication, "Development and Climate Change - The World Bank at Work," is an initial report on the progress made together with clients and partners since the Strategic Framework was approved in October of 2008.