Environmental Policy at the IDB | Bank Information Center: Monitoring the projects and policies of the World Bank, IMF and other international financial institutions


bicusa.org/IDBenvironmentpolicy Environmental Policy at the IDB Overview Background Updates Resources Contacts RSS Update \| 31 August 2011 World Bank Safeguard Policy Review: Early Issues, What to Expect? It took many years to establish the World Bank's operational policies that safeguard society and the environment, and are some of the world's highest development standards. As the Bank reviews these policies, civil society is organizing efforts to present their concerns and expectations, and offer their imputs as to what the outcome of the review should be. Read more Press Clipping \| 28 March 2011 CSOs demand accountability for capital increase reforms Five country delegation of civil society organizations are at the IDB Annual Meeting of Governors in Calgary, Canada to monitor implementation of reforms that were agreed a year ago in exchange for a $70 Billion capital increase. Reform areas of critical focus include social and environmental safeguards, climate strategy, and results management. Read more Country Update \| 22 March 2011 Peru Read more Update \| 15 February 2011 Civil society to IDB: Safeguard compliance and sustainability promotion not a trade-off Civil society sent a letter to President Luis Alberto Moreno expressing their support, yet concern and strong disagreement with parts of the report’s analysis which, if misinterpreted, could negatively affect the integrity of the principles of sustainability in Bank operations. Read more Update \| 1 November 2010 Civil Society submits a dossier of proposals for policy reforms to the IDB The dossier contains a summary of proposals submitted by a group of civil society organizations to the Inter-American Development Bank. These recommendations focus on two core areas of the IDB’s comparative advantage as a development bank in Latin America, Sustainability and Management for Development Results. Read more Update \| 19 October 2010 Guyana: Amaila Falls Hydro: Social and Environmental Aspects The Government of Guyana is planning to build a 140 MW hydroelectric dam on the Potaro River with funding from China and Norway and technical support from the IDB and WB. The first dam is part of a 1060 MW complex that will have signficant social and environmental impacts in the western Amazon region of the country. Read more Update \| 24 September 2010 International Seminar about the Multimodal Axis Amazon/ IIRSA: Strategic Hermeticism? Read more Update \| 5 August 2010 IDB Signals New Post-Capital Increase Relationship with Civil Society Exchange of views highlights differences in defining new rules for participation, development effectiveness and additionality. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 July 2010 Bolivian Deputy Minister of Environment and Director of Environment submit their resignation Bolivian Deputy Minister of Environment Juan Pablo Ramos and Director Environment Luis Beltrán submitted irrevocable resignation from their posts on Friday of last week, after government officials tried to force them to sign an environmental permit for the construction of a highway in the Chapare region of Cochabamba. Read more Press Clipping \| 26 July 2010 Event in Peru presents the final results of a binational study of the navegavility of the Napo River Oraldo Reategui, a member of the Audit Committee of IIRSA Projects, reported the meeting began with forty attendees, most of them officials of public institutions, being absent representatives of civil society due to poor call for participation by the authorities. Read more Update \| 6 July 2010 We need sustainable development banks, say NGOs MEXICO CITY, Jul 5, 2010 (IPS) - Non-governmental organizations from across the Americas are demanding that the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank institute policies that favor sustainable energy and help mitigate climate change. Read more Update \| 18 March 2010 Tip Sheet: Inter-American Development Bank’s 2010 Annual Meeting in Cancun A coalition comprised of more than 100 civil society groups from 20 countries are attending the IDB's Annual Meetings in Cancun, Mexico this week seeking answers from Bank Governors and Executives on crucial reforms that must be discussed before a Board vote on a multi-billion dollar capital increase. Read more Update \| 17 March 2010 The challenge of transparency in the construction of megaprojects This article is based on an investigation of the Puerto Suárez - Santa Cruz Bi-Oceanic Corridor conducted by a team of professionals from the Center of Applied Studies of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CEADESC) in Bolivia. The investigation is centered on transparency policies applied in the management and development of mega-infrastructure projects within the IIRSA integration initiative in South America, and aims to ignite a debate between civil society and the various international actors that finance IIRSA. The CEADESC study shows that this debate can only take place within a wider discussion about the interrelation between development policy, democracy and human rights given that each one of these dimensions is a condition for advancement of the others. Read more Update \| 17 February 2010 IDB Governor Accountability in Question as IDB Cruises Toward Cancun Recapitalization Request More than 100 civil society organizations from 18 countries stepped up pressure on the IDB by submitting a letter to the Board of Governors demanding Transparency and Evidence of Structural Reforms before the approval on the Capital Increase in Cancun, Mexico. Read more Press Clipping \| 16 February 2010 Brazil, Argentina say IADB failing Latin America Brazil and Argentina called on Friday for reforms at the Inter-American Development Bank, saying the regional lender had failed to understand the needs of Latin America during the global financial crisis. Read more Press Clipping \| 7 February 2010 Brazil, Argentina To Take IDB Reform Proposal To G-20 Brazil and Argentina will present a proposal for reform of the Inter-American Development Bank at the next meeting of G-20 nations, Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said Friday, according to the Estado news agency. Read more Update \| 21 January 2010 2010 IDB Annual Meeting - Cancun All the latest news from the IDB Global Capital Increase (GCI-9) and the Annual Meetings taking place from March 19-23, 2010 Read more Update \| 22 December 2009 BIC signs letter congratulating IDB on sustainable transportation project BIC Executive Director Chad Dobson signed the letter to IDB president Luis Alberto Moreno after the approval of the San Francisco-Mocoa Alternate Road Construction Project. The letter notes how constructive dialogue with civil society led to many improvements in the project and encourages some of these commitments to be formalized during the general capital increase. Read more Press Release \| 5 November 2009 IDB GCI consultation at early crossroads Guadalajara Civil Society Meetings in Guadalajara, Mexico open with increased demands for consultation process accountability, transparency guarantees. Good faith participation by CSOs rests on Bank decision to disclose and discuss a second draft of the proposed revisions to the Independent Consultation and Inspection Mechanism (ICIM). Read more Update \| 3 November 2009 Indigenous leaders denounce IIRSA megaprojects that violate the rights of Mother Earth The Confederación Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas de Perú (CAIO), the Organización Indígena Chiquitana de Bolivia (OICH), el Centro de Estudios Aplicados a los Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales de Bolivia (CEADESC), Comunidades Nativas de Pueblos Indígenas de Rondonia de Brasil and Indian Law Resource Center today denounced various IIRSA projects at the Inter-American Court for Human Rights in Washingtion DC for the violation of the right to free and prior informed consent of indigenous peoples. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 October 2009 Peru Energy Minister Does Not Convince Congress on Gas Shortages The Minister was questioned by Congress on persistent complaints about a gas shortage on the local market. Now the Minister claims that there are 15 TCF in gas reserves, which will supply the internal market for a period of up to 27 years. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 October 2009 Brazilian Settlements in Pando Awaken Tensions Lula and Evo coordinate the return of 1,000 Brazilians located in Pando. Some call for the defense of their lands. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 October 2009 EU Support to Bolivia Focuses on Chiquitania Region The Prefect of Santa Cruz, Rubén Costas, and EU ambassador Kenny Bell inaugurated 14 bridges, a viaduct and six road accesses. The projects were financed as part of the fourth section of the bioceanic corrdior Santa Cruz-Arroyo Concepción. Bolivia receives more European financial assistance than any other country in the region. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 October 2009 El Tinto-San José Section of SC-PS Highway Divided, Delayed Astaldi fined $6 million, Paraíso-El Tinto section also behind schedule Read more Press Clipping \| 16 October 2009 IDB approves $1 billion credit line for Ecuador’s road network A first loan for $350 million to finance investments in key bridge, maintenance work, road safety Read more Update \| 8 October 2009 Peru approves regulations for National Environmental Impact Assessment System Peru approves Law Nº 27446, which establishes a national Environmental Impact Assessment system Read more Update \| 2 October 2009 Open letter to Mr. Luis Alberto Moreno, President of IDB Civil Society outlines their concerns about socio-environmental impacts of the IIRSA project "Road Interconnection: Pucallpa-Cruzeiro do Sul" and demands that the IDB promote more transparency and public consultation in the IIRSA process. Read more Update \| 17 September 2009 IDB begins consultation on Ninth Global Capital Increase Read more Press Clipping \| 9 August 2009 Ecuador reaches agreement for Manta Port Concession Read more Press Clipping \| 28 July 2009 The Manta-Manaos project is going to Singapore On August 12, an Ecuadorian's government delegation will go to Singapore on an official visit with the intention to promote the Manta Manaus Corridor. The cornerstone projects in the portfolio are the Manta port, an airport and the Manta-Manaus route through the Napo river. Read more Press Clipping \| 21 July 2009 Lethem road (IIRSA) could lead to big forest loss unless REDD framework in place The Linden to Lethem road will have one of the biggest impacts on the forest and figures show that about two million hectares of forest will be lost through the project unless there is a framework to pay for and provide alternative development to what would traditionally occur along such a road. Read more Update \| 21 July 2009 IDB ignores substance of civil society replenishment recommendations The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) sidesteps civil society concerns raised regarding a proposal advanced by the IDB in Santiago, Chile on July 2 to increase its capital base by $100-$200 billion, which would triple Bank annual lending from an average of $US 6 billion since the last replenishment to a projected $16-19 billion per year. Read more Update \| 20 July 2009 IDB & IIRSA: Continuity in Question Within the current context of a global capital increase proposal by the Inter-American Development Bank that would permit the Bank to triple its current annual lending volume, 20 civil society organizations from 10 countries demanded that the IDB not renew its mandate to participate in the Technical Coordination Committee (CCT) of IIRSA based on the inconsistency of IIRSA practices with Bank safeguard and operating policies. Read more Update \| 20 July 2009 Peru renegotiating the canon contracts for Camisea The contract permits the export of gas at a price that is lower than the gas directed to the local market. The Government has initiated a new request to renegotiate the contracts and also seeking to limit the gas from Lot 88 for domestic use only. Read more Update \| 16 July 2009 Evaluating CAF/INRENA I and the future of the Interoceanica highway BICECA Bulletin 2009 Read more Update \| 10 July 2009 Camisea canon impact falls short The increase in infrastructure investment does not represent a substantial impact in terms of poverty reduction among the affected populations of the Camisea Natural Gas Extraction Project in Cusco, Peru. This was one of the primary conclusions of a study conducted by Propuesta Ciudadana, with the support of Oxfam America, Bank Information Center and World Resources Institute. Read more Update \| 2 July 2009 IIRSA forum of strategic reflection - chronicle of a death foretold Reflections about the conference on IIRSA Read more Update \| 2 July 2009 20 Civil Society Organizations and networks call on IDB to withdraw from IIRSA In the context of a 9th Global Capital Increase request, for which the IDB is designing a new institutional strategy anchored by sustainability, equity and development goals, IIRSA has not demostrated compatibility with these goals and should be abandoned by the Bank. Read more Press Clipping \| 2 July 2009 Rehabilitation of Puerto Suarez - Puerto Busch-Mutun roads begin Indian Ore Concessionaire Jindal Steel has financed the $16 million rehabilitation of 100 km roadway between the Mutun iron ore mine and Puerto Busch Read more Update \| 30 June 2009 Civil society organizations challenge IDB commitments to development results and sustainability As member countries assess the 9th replenishment proposal advanced by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on July 2 in Santiago, Chile, eight civil society organizations submitted recommendations on leadership steps the IDB should take in several critical areas before qualifying for any capital increase. These recommendations focus on two core areas of the IDB’s comparative advantage as a development bank in Latin America, Sustainability and Management for Development Results. Read more Update \| 22 June 2009 Understanding Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) The increasingly important topic of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) was recently discussed among civil society organizations in Bogota, Colombia. Participants in the event discussed the ways in which the SEAs can be most effective and how to overcome certain challenges in applying the SEAs to certain projects. Infrastructure and sustainable development topics are also covered in this SEA bulletin. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 May 2009 IDB funded Brazilian Thermal-Electric Plant to use Carbon Capture Technology The new plant should start operating in 2012. It should have a capacity for generation of 720 megawatts (MW) of energy. The project also counts on financial investment by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), equivalent to 1 billion reais (US$ 490 million). Read more Press Clipping \| 25 May 2009 Peru seeks US$300mn World Bank loan for transport sector The loan would support an overall US$1.08bn transport infrastructure development program, of which another US$630mn is to be covered by the state and US$150mn by IDB. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 May 2009 PetroPeru says Indigenous protests causing fuel shortages in Peru State-owned oil company Petroperu said Sunday protests organized by Indians in Peru’s Amazon region were causing fuel shortages in several jungle cities. Read more Update \| 23 May 2009 Ecuadorean Hydroelectric Project: Coca Codo Sinclair Opens Review Period Comment period on draft EIA between May 30 and June 3 Read more Update \| 22 May 2009 Modernizing the ports in Peru for 2013 Read more Press Clipping \| 22 May 2009 Peru: Camisea has not guaranteed enough energy to sustain growth Read more Press Clipping \| 21 May 2009 IIRSA Norte Peru difficulties being resolved by concessionaire Read more Update \| 13 May 2009 Guiana Shield Meeting Recap The recent April meeting among indigenous leaders of the Guiana Shield revealed their concerns about the IIRSA project and the lack of clarity around REDD and climate change. The indigenous leaders and their political counterparts agreed that there would be more participation and joint decision-making processes in the future about topics affecting the indigenous groups' land. Read more Update \| 8 May 2009 Scenario II - IIRSA Transfer to UNASUR Read more Press Clipping \| 1 May 2009 Indigenous leaders of the Guianas meet in Georgetown Read more Update \| 16 April 2009 ProInversión seeks to re-launch IIRSA Centro concession tender by year-end ProInversion, Peru's state agency for the promotion of private investment, will likely launch a tender to concession the IIRSA highway. Read more Update \| 23 March 2009 2009 IDB Annual Meeting All the latest news from the IDB Annual Meetings taking place from March 27-31, 2009 Read more Press Clipping \| 19 March 2009 Bolivians and Brazilians oppose the privatization of Rio Madeira Both Bolivians and Brazilians do not agree with the privatization of the Rio Madeira. For different reasons but the same objective, the Bolivians and Brazilians join forces to oppose the privatization. Read more Update \| 27 February 2009 Challenging IIRSA Mega-Projects for Regional Integration: Priorities, Strategies and Lessons Learned BICECA Boletín Mensual 2009 Read more Press Clipping \| 17 February 2009 Forum declares Manta, Ecuador as an entry port to South America Various participants at the forum raise their points of view regarding the integration of South America and the Manta-Manaus corridor as the entry point to the region. Read more Update \| 3 February 2009 World Social Forum 2009 For the 2009 World Social Forum (WSF), a group composed of various organizations is organizing a two day workshop for updates and strategy building to inform, discuss, plan and act in defense of the rights of affected populations and the environment. The organizations are working to prevent and/or mitigate any type of social and environmental negative impacts caused by the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA) and other harmful development strategies. Read more Update \| 21 January 2009 Case study: Corredor Norte BICECA Monthly Bulletin 2009 Read more Update \| 26 December 2008 Colombia issues environmental license for Pasto Mocoa highway IDB Loan Approval Set for early 2009: The $200 million road project in Putumayo, Colombia is an anchor project for the IIRSA Amazonas Corridor and will unlock commercial traffic between the ports of Tumaco and Belem, as well as between Bogota and Quito. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 December 2008 IHT: Guyana lacks funds for important roads to Brazil, Venezuela The Inter American Development Bank set aside more than $900,000 to conduct a feasibility study into the road linking Guyana with Brazil. Read more Update \| 25 November 2008 Civil Society and IDB workshop: Strategic Environmental Assessments and sustainable development Civil society organizations (CSOs) from 10 South American countries have invited the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to engage in dialogue about the use and misuse of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) in a two-day workshop to be held in Bogota, Colombia (Dec. 2 and 3, 2008). The workshop will feature presentations on the IDB's progress in developing a strategic decision making system that includes clearer rules for SEAs. CSOs will present lessons learned and recommendations for more effective use of SEAs drawn from a decade of experience with high risk infrastructure projects. Read more Update \| 21 November 2008 Directors of IIRSA reject petition for participation of civil society The President of the Directors of IIRSA and current Director of the Ministry of Planning of Colombia, Carolina Renteria, reported on Monday, November 10 the decision to reject a hearing on IIRSA requested by 20 civil society organizations from 8 countries. The CSOs submitted a proposal to create mechanisms to ensure the participation of civil society in the planning process of integration within the framework of IIRSA, in addition to other potential integration processes as well as for the implementation of Strategic Environmental Studies (SEA) for groups of IIRSA projects. Read more Update \| 29 September 2008 IIRSA CCT meeting on infrastructure and the Amazon: IIRSA's future in doubt BICECA Quarterly Bulletin 2008 Read more Update \| 15 September 2008 El BID rechaza el dialogo con sociedad civil El Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) desestimó una propuesta de la sociedad civil para realizar un seminario conjunto sobre infraestructura y mecanismos de planificación sostenibles en el Amazonas. Dicho seminario se proponía para la próxima reunión que el Banco desarrollará con la sociedad civil en Montevideo, Uruguay, el 16 y 17 de Octubre. Por muchos motivos la relación del BID con la sociedad civil ha caído a su nivel más bajo. Read more Update \| 12 September 2008 Perú: La restitución de los derechos de los nativos tiene un largo camino por recorrer Si bien los pueblos originarios de Perú han logrado que el Congreso de la República derogue los decretos legislativos N° 1015 y N° 1073, todavía la protección de sus derechos y sus tierras no está completamente asegurada. Read more Press Release \| 23 June 2008 “Aguas Turvas”: new book that explains the never ending socio-environmental problems of the Madeira Complex A major new book, jointly published by the Bank Information Center, International Rivers and other partners, aims to explain the contradictions of the Hydroelectric Complex and the hydroways of the Madeira River. "Aguas Turvas" will serve as a tool for those that seek to understand the history of the project and its implications for the Amazon region. Read more Update \| 14 May 2008 Brazil's environment minister quits in protest Marina Silva's resignation is linked to her opposition to many of the major megaprojects planned and underway in the Brazilian Amazon, including two large hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River. Read more Press Release \| 7 April 2008 Record 2007 IDB lending comes at expense of environment, communities As the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) today announced record lending of $9.6 billion in 2007, environmental and human rights groups warned that the milestone had come at the expense of the environment and communities. Read more Update \| 4 April 2008 IDB Watch A publication of civil society groups working to reform the Inter-American Development Bank. Read more Press Release \| 3 April 2008 Unaccountable and unsustainable, IDB champions corporate interests at expense of citizens Bank ignores climate change and development indicators as estimated 250 million Latin Americans live in poverty despite near half-century of lending. Read more Update \| 26 October 2005 Civil Society Action is Critical for Establishing Strong Safeguard Policies at the Inter-American Development Bank Look at the latest versions of the IDB's environmental and indigenous peoples' policies, which have been finally made publicly available. Read more to learn about the current stance within the IDB that is stalling the further strengthening and approval of these important tools. Read more Update \| 14 June 2005 Civil Society Guide to IFI Policy Reviews now available Read more Update \| 11 March 2005 Blue Ribbon Panel presents recommendations on IDB Environmental Policy to President Iglesias On March 10, 2005, the Blue Ribbon Panel, a group of international environmental experts convened to review the IDB's environmental policy and make recommendations for sustainability and environmentally conscious development. Read more Update \| 9 March 2005 IDB Environmental Policy consultation period ends. Comprehensive list of civil society recommendations sent to IDB List includes consolidated recommendations from all the public consultations: Barbados, Washington DC, Brussels, Panamá, Rio de Janeiro and Lima. Read more Update \| 3 March 2005 Report on the Third Consultation on the Inter-American Development Bank's draft Environmental and Safeguard Policy The public consultation in Panama included 56 participants from 7 member countries in the Central American region: Costa Rica, Guatemala, México, Nicaragua, Belize, the Dominican Republic and Panamá, with representatives from government, private business and civil society. Read more Update \| 22 February 2005 Report on the IDB's consultion in Rio de Janeiro Read more Update \| 18 February 2005 IDB concludes Brussels, Belgium, consultation on Environmental Policy Read more Update \| 11 February 2005 IDB concludes Washington, DC consultation on Environmental Policy Read more Update \| 10 December 2004 IDB schedules regional consultations for environment and safeguard policy review. Civil society writes early critique. Civil society urged to weigh in on this Inter-American Development Bank policy review, which can have profound consequences on upcoming large-scale infrastructure projects in Latin America. Read more Update \| 13 July 2004 Civil Society groups from more than twenty countries endorse letter on IDB Environment Policy revision Read more Print Email		Search Key Issues Access to Information at the World Bank Forests IFC Policies and Standards Review World Bank Energy Strategy Review World Bank Safeguards Review Stay Informed! Sign up for our e-newsletters. SignUp

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