The World Bank Wants You!
No, it’s not a joke—the World Bank Group is undertaking consultations right now on its Strategic Framework on Climate Change and Development. Yesterday I attended an internal consultation, and the turnout – over 100 staff – made it clear that World Bank staff are seeing that climate change affects their work. Global consultations with governments, civil society, the private sector, and other groups have been going on since March 2008 in places as far-flung as Brasilia and Jakarta. You also have a chance to get your two cents (or eurocents, pesos, or whatever) in by commenting online. The deadline for submitting comments has been extended through July 7. You can also see what others are saying on the site.
So why is the World Bank making climate change a central plank of its development agenda? It is convinced that increasing climate variability (a polite term, I suppose, for the increasing frequency of catastrophic events like tsunamis as well as only slightly less devastating droughts) and rising temperatures have serious implications for developing countries. In the words of the draft Strategic Framework:
Climate change presents an urgent challenge to the well-being of all countries…and particularly to the poorest countries and the poorest people in vulnerable regions… [T]he poorest countries and communities, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, are likely to suffer the earliest and most because of their geographical location, low incomes, and limited institutional capacity.
The World Bank has recognized that the private sector will be a key partner in confronting these challenges, both in terms of financing and developing more energy efficient technology. The IFC will be spearheading the World Bank Group’s endeavors to establish partnerships with the private sector. Near-term actions of the IFC include:
- Enhanced support for renewable energy and energy efficiency investment
- Partnerships to address climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Extending carbon finance activities
How else should the World Bank Group and the IFC be engaging the private sector? How can it shape incentives for the private sector to help solve these pressing problems with developing countries? Submit your comments here.
In addition to an area for comment submission, the Global Consultations page also provides an executive summary of the strategic framework (in Chinese, French, English, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish), a Powerpoint presentation, and Frequently Asked Questions. Oh, and don't forget the movie on Why is Climate Change a Development Issue?
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As someone who knows quite a few climate scientists, I'd say that thinking hard about climate change has some interesting and perhaps quite beneficial side-effects.
It makes you think about longer timescales. Perhaps the World Bank and others could use this approach to consider realistic timescales for making poverty history. Perhaps planning to get everything done and the Bank closed in say 60 years? (Just a guess).
It makes you constantly re-check the evidence. How did we get here? (e.g. why are so many African countries as poor as they are) Are we really sure?
It forces you to share everything you know, even with people you don't trust - skeptics, etc.
I'm sure I'll think of others. Anyway the message is that climate change, like development, isn't all doom and gloom, it's a great field to work in and will certainly change the world - hopefully for the better.
Posted by: Michael Saunby | Jun 23, 2008 5:02:18 PM