Environmental & Social Policies | Bank Information Center: Monitoring the projects and policies of the World Bank, IMF and other international financial institutions


bicusa.org/environment Environmental & Social Policies Overview Background Problem Projects Updates RSS Update \| 16 May 2012 Bishops and Extractive Industries: A Human Face of Mining At the Washington National Cathedral an unlikely gathering of bishops, preachers, and advocates met to explore how they might draw attention to the harm that bad mining practices wreak on people and land. Read more Update \| 30 March 2012 "Our Land, Our Decision!" Today residents of Obiliq, Kosovo carried out a protest against a new coal power plant that has funding from the World Bank and the support of the US government. Read more Update \| 1 September 2011 Bank Information Center (BIC) attended the Oslo REDD Exchange The workshop Oslo REDD Exchange 2011 was organized by Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI) and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), on 23-24 June 2011. Read more 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 Update \| 15 August 2011 The scandalous allocation of mining titles in natural parks Granting titles to large companies and individuals in national parks and other protected ecosystems is controversial because it was an openly illegal action. Read more Update \| 15 August 2011 The Federal Public Ministry of Brazil's Federal District takes action to protect watersheds According to the MPF, the evaluation of impacts of hydroelectric plants has been partial and does not reflect the true environmental risks. Read more Update \| 11 August 2011 Tipnis: the indigenous do not dialogue; the UN asks for consensus Read more Update \| 11 August 2011 Brazil to disimburse funds for TIPNIS until ecosystem preservation is guaranteed The disimbursement of the funds for the third section of the Villa Tunari-San Ignacio de Moxos highway is now being withheld until the preservation of the ecosystem in the Indigenous Territory in the Isiboro Sécure National Park (TIPNIS) is guaranteed, a commitment by the government of Evo Morales to Brazil. Read more Update \| 4 August 2011 Civil society brief on World Bank safeguards review The Bank Information Center, World Resources Institute, and the Center for International Environmental Law have prepared a briefing that introduces the World Bank safeguards review which will begin in September 2011. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 July 2011 Peru approves $195 million soles more to finish Interoceanica Sur Highway The Peruvian legislature has approved an additional payment to complete the Southern Interoceanic Highway, linking the Andean country with Brazil. The highway is expected to be completed in 2012 Read more Update \| 13 July 2011 Evo accuses TIPNIS leaders of asking for money President Evo Morales again accused indigenous leaders —who he says are influenced by European NGOs— of borrowing money for projects like the construction of the Villa Tunari-San Ignacio de Moxos highway, which cuts through the TIPNIS. Read more Update \| 12 July 2011 BNDES paradox: bank funds both destruction and conservation of indigenous lands At the same time it is funding a dam that will devastate indigenous lands and block the Xingu River, Brazil's National Development Bank (BNDES) may allocate some $14.3 million (BRL 22.3 million) in grants for projects developed within the Kayapo indigenous lands, reports Conservation International. Read more Update \| 12 July 2011 What is the BNDES for? The BNDES’s preposterous involvement in the corporate dispute between French multinationals over the Pão-de-Açúcar supermarket chain shows that the state-owned bank has strayed far from its original mission. What exactly is the BNDES’s role nowadays? Read more Update \| 8 July 2011 Indigenous communities march to defend the TIPNIS With emotionally-charged messages, the representatives of indigenous communities marched against the construction of a highway that would split the TIPNIS in two, arguing that its construction allows for the ethnocide of communities who arduosly worked for the park to become an Originative Communal Land (TCO). (Spanish). Read more Update \| 7 July 2011 WB/TAP/FCPF comment on Colombia R-PP The World Bank, the Technical Advisory Panel, and the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility present their comments on the latest draft of the the Colombia R-PP. (Document links). Read more Update \| 7 July 2011 Peru submits fourth version of Readiness Preparation Proposal to PC8 Peru submits their fourth version to the FCPF Participants Committee at their eight meeting in March 23-25. Read more Update \| 21 June 2011 BICECA Monthly Bulletin Read more Update \| 20 June 2011 Inambari Hydroelectric dam ceases. The Carabaya people attain the cancellation of the project After nearly three years and numerous endeavors, the Carabayan clamor attains the cancellation of the Inambari Hydroelectric dam construction, and not precisely due to the consent of the central government, but because the situation grew unsustainable alongside other unrealized social and environmental problems in the Puno region. Read more Press Clipping \| 28 April 2011 OHL negotiates purchase of 40% of Peruvian "Belo Monte" Read more Update \| 5 April 2011 Organization of American States requests immediate suspension of Belo Monte dam in Brazilian Amazon The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights considered that Indigenous Peoples must be consulted BEFORE the dam’s construction begins Read more Press Clipping \| 29 March 2011 Political party, Peru Posible, signs Environmental Agreement A few days before the presidential elections, the party Peru Posible's (PP) spokesman Carlos Bruce, signed the Environmental Agreement, an initiative that seeks after environemtal proposals and commitments for the political parties that will participate in the elections on April 10th. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 March 2011 Ex-Pres Clinton Criticizes Hydroelectricity in Amazon Read more Press Release \| 25 March 2011 Peru approves their 4th version of the R-PP, agreeing on more changes Peru approved the 4th version of its R-PP at the 8th meeting of the FCPF Participants Committee in Da Lat. They agreed to incorporate some inputs they discussed with Indigenous Peoples and Mesa REDD Peru. The changes will be added to the next version. Read more Update \| 7 March 2011 Guyana sees a 300% increase in deforestation despite landmark deal to protect its forests Guyana has seen deforestation rates soar over the last year, despite the signing of an agreement with the Norwegian government aimed precisely at supporting a reduction in deforestation rates, said Global Witness today. Read more Update \| 24 September 2010 Roads and Deforestation: proper diagnosis and Basis for Sustainable Transport in Peru's R-PP In general the REDD discussions are based on the assumption of command and control policies that combines investment and capacity to implement economic incentives to avoid deforestation. In this sense there is relatively little emphasis in the discussion of solutions to structural problems that lead people from different sectors to adopt strategies that lead to deforestation and forest degradation, in other terms governance scenarios. Read more Update \| 9 September 2010 ClimateWire: World Bank's climate change envoy steers around hot-button issues Andrew Steer was recently appointed to be the World Bank's first envoy on climate change, overseeing the creation of a coherent plan for the Bank to confront the issue. ClimateWire profiles Steer, seeing many praises of the man, but uncertainty in how much change he can bring. Read more Update \| 2 September 2010 The World Bank’s $6 billion man on climate change The World Bank recently created the position of Special Envoy for Climate Change, a position charged with overseeing massive amounts of money put toward mitigation efforts. Andrew Steer is the first person appointed to this position. Read more Update \| 1 September 2010 NGOs: World Bank palm oil strategy is reckless A coalition of stakeholders has demanded that the World Bank continue its freeze on palm oil investments until it has implemented an acceptable strategy for investment in the sector. Read more Update \| 27 August 2010 World Bank trying to "subvert" UN fix for emission offsets, lobby says Three environmental groups called on the World Bank to stop obstructing the overhaul of the United Nations program for awarding emission credits tied to hydrofluorocarbons. They claim that analytical and factual errors in a World Bank report would lead to a derailing of the Clean Development Mechanism. Read more Press Clipping \| 10 August 2010 The world's first really green oil deal Ecuador's £3.6bn scheme to save its rainforest from exploitation could point the way to sparing other threatened landscapes. Read more Update \| 4 August 2010 PRESS RELEASE: Eskom Inspection Panel case leads civil society to demand changes Following the Inspection Panel's decision to launch a full investigation into the recently approved loan to South African utility Eskom, South African and international CSOs called for the World Bank to learn from the loan as it reviews its Energy Strategy. Read more Update \| 29 July 2010 Inspection Panel to investigate the Bank's controversial Eskom coal loan The Panel was given the green light today to conduct a full investigation into alleged policy violations in the World Bank's loan to South African power utility Eskom based on a complaint from local communities, who allege that the project will result in significant harms to their health, environment and livelihoods. 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 \| 23 July 2010 Ecuador’s economy under Rafael Correa: Twenty-first century socialism or the New-Extractivism? Prof. Jeffery Webster interviews Alberto Acosta, ex-Minister of Energy and Mines, and ex-President of the Constituent Assembly. Read more Update \| 14 July 2010 Groups seek stronger World Bank investment standards to protect poor Organizations from different Asian countries demanded that multilateral agencies place additional and stronger safety provisions in their investment standards to ensure that poor communities do not become more vulnerable due to 'aggressive' development projects. Read more Update \| 10 June 2010 Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance Study Program : Public Meetings 13, 14, 15, 16, 20 June 2010 According to the World Bank, as part of the public consultation process under the Red Sea–Dead Sea Water Conveyance Study Program, the Beneficiary Parties (the Government of Israel, the Government of Jordan and the Palestinian Authority) plan to hold a series of meetings to update interested stakeholders on the progress under the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Study Program and seek their feedback. Read more Update \| 3 June 2010 Activists protest Energy Strategy consultation in Brussels The protestors, led by Friends of the Earth Europe, gathered peacefully outside of the meeting where they demanded an end to the World Bank's financing of fossil fuel projects. Read more Update \| 24 May 2010 ClimateWire: Eskom fallout spurs new opposition to World Bank's role in climate funding A new ClimateWire article looks into the growing number of voices concerned about the World Bank's role in a post-Copenhagen world. The Bank's recent approval of a controversial loan to South African utility Eskom has spurred several previously reserved groups to demand reforms. BIC board member David Hunter was quoted. Read more Press Clipping \| 21 May 2010 Peru: First country in the Americas to approve Law on the Right to Consultation The Peruvian Congress approved on Wednesday a provisional ruling on a law for the Right to Prior Consultation of Indigenous and Native Peoples. Still, indigenous groups emphasize the need to reconcile the development vision of the State and that of indigenous peoples, which is not always the same. Read more Update \| 12 May 2010 Now is the time to shift World Bank resources to clean energy Jake Schmidt of the Natural Resources Defense Council writes that before the U.S. commits to funding the World Bank's capital increase, the Bank must commit fully to being part of the climate change solution. Read more Update \| 12 May 2010 NGO community celebrates 20th anniversary of the Pelosi Amendment At a dinner in the Rayburn Congressional Office Building, representatives of non-governmental organizations, the U.S. government, and multilateral development banks came together to celebrate the Pelosi Amendment, a longstanding requirement for environmental assessment in MDB loans. Read more Update \| 6 May 2010 BIC's model Energy Strategy launch: video and commentary On April 24, BIC launched a model Energy Strategy for the World Bank. Taking advantage of the many representatives of government and civil society in town for the World Bank Spring Meetings, we held an event with an expert panel addressing the World Bank's problmetic approach to energy and how the Bank can transform its lending. Read more Update \| 5 May 2010 PRESS RELEASE: Time for the World Bank to clean its energy investments – or lose relevance A BIC-IeSR press release calls on the World Bank to clean up its energy investments before approval of an $86 billion recapitalization this fall. Read more Update \| 3 May 2010 Civil society lights the World Bank's path to clean energy at Spring Meetings The Huffington Post publishes a BIC op-ed on civil society's insight and input into the World Bank's Energy Strategy review process. Read more Press Clipping \| 30 April 2010 Obama administration continues to subsidize coal Despite pledges to the contrary, a new report from environmentalist Joshua Frank shows that the Obama administration is subsidizing coal to an unprecedented degree, including through the World Bank and other MDBs. Read more Update \| 30 April 2010 WRI releases report on sustainable energy investments A new report from WRI coathored by BIC board member Athena Ballesteros examines MDB investment in the power sector between 2006 and 2008 and what the policies, regulations, and institutional capacities of this period mean for the future. Read more Update \| 29 April 2010 New analysis: FY2010 already the World Bank's largest year for fossil fuel spending to date A new factsheet from BIC consultant Heike Mainhardt-Gibbs shows that fiscal year 2010 is the most the World Bank has ever loaned for fossil fuel. There are still two months left in FY2010, during which the Bank will decide on a coal plant to be built in Botswana. Read more Press Clipping \| 28 April 2010 Civil society calls on World Bank to reform its energy lending Against the backdrop of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's spring meetings this weekend, numerous groups have chimed in on the need for and direction of a new World Bank energy strategy. Read more Update \| 26 April 2010 BIC releases model World Bank Energy Strategy As the World Bank is crafting its new Energy Strategy, BIC has put together a model for how we think the Bank's final strategy should look. The model was created in consultation with civil society and energy experts worldwide. Read more Update \| 22 April 2010 PRESS RELEASE: Civil society opposes Zoellick's GCI request Civil society organizations voice opposition to the World Bank's recapitalization ask. Read more Update \| 22 April 2010 Consórcio de Belo Monte recaudará R$ 80 millones con venta de madera Read more Press Clipping \| 19 April 2010 Vencedor de Belo Monte tendrá que hacer ajuste societário Read more Update \| 9 April 2010 South African activist speaks out about World Bank loan on Democracy Now In an interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now, Desmond D'Sa of the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance spoke about the controversial loan to Eskom and what will be done now that the Board has approved it. Read more Press Clipping \| 8 April 2010 U.S. to abstain on South African coal plant South African activist Desmond D'Sa is quoted in the ClimateWire article. Sources say that later today, the U.S. will abstain from voting on the controversial Eskom loan rather than vote against it. Read more Press Clipping \| 8 April 2010 Gobierno publica decreto supremo que crea Comisión que revisará decreto de urgencia sobre minería en Read more Update \| 7 April 2010 US and African voices shout a resounding “NO” to Eskom in front of the World Bank Civil society activists converged at the World Bank on Wednesday afternoon in protest of the proposed $3.75 billion loan to South African power utility Eskom. Read more Press Clipping \| 7 April 2010 Ordenamiento minero y protesta ‘popular’ Read more Press Clipping \| 5 April 2010 Peru: paro de mineros informales deja muertos y heridos Read more Update \| 31 March 2010 Activist Q&A: Meet Sergei Vorsin BIC highlights the work of Sergei Vorsin of Tajikistan's Taraqqiet Development Centre. Read more Correspondence \| 25 March 2010 CSO exchanges letters with WB & Egypt's Min. of Water Resources re: controversial West Delta project Habi Center for Environmental Rights continues to engage the World Bank and the Egyptian government on the West Delta project. Egyptian CSOs have been urging the Bank to consider an alternative irrigation project which would help poor farmers as well. Read more Press Clipping \| 22 March 2010 Indigenous leader confronts Chevron Cofan leader Emergildo Criollo traveled to California recently from his indigenous village in Ecuador to the home of Chevron’s new CEO John Watson, demanding that the oil giant take responsibility for the contamination of the Amazon and hundreds of related deaths. Read more Update \| 16 March 2010 Invitation: Friends of the Earth meeting on proposed Eskom loan Friends of the Earth is planning a discussion with two South African activists about the proposed $3.75 million loan to Eskom which will fund the construction of the Medupi power station tomorrow at 1 p.m. Read more Update \| 11 March 2010 Lugar: No more money for development banks until reform The staff of Senator Richard Lugar released a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations calling for reform of the IFIs before Congress approves upcoming capital replenishment requests for the institutions. Read more Press Clipping \| 1 March 2010 Puno mining authorities against Inambari hydroelectric dam “In our capacity as regional authorities, we have conducted a technical analysis of this project and we will not endorse it, because this project will only benefit Brazil” stated Víctor Paredes Argandeña, regional director of Energy and Mining in Puno. Read more Press Clipping \| 16 February 2010 Bangladesh rejects terms for £60m of climate aid from UK The Bangladeshi government objects to grant money being channelled through the World Bank, which it says will attach unfavourable "strings and conditions." Read more Update \| 28 January 2010 World Bank Environment Strategy consultation calendar now available Alongside the Energy Strategy review, the Bank has been working on a revision of its broader Environmental Strategy since September 2009. This calendar shows both the upcoming consultation dates and summaries of previous consultations. Read more Update \| 20 January 2010 Five new R-PPs submitted to the FCPF Participants Committee Five countries recently submitted Readiness Preparation Proposals to the Participants Committee of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. Argentina, DRC, Ghana, Mexico, and Suriname will have their proposals for grant allocation reviewed at the next meeting of the Participants Committee in March. Read more Press Clipping \| 20 January 2010 E&E News quotes BIC on Treasury Dept. coal guidelines The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently released guidelines on the funding of coal power plants by multilateral development banks, prompting mixed reactions from civil society. BIC board member Athena Ballesteros and Sustainable Energy Expert Yong Chen are quoted, expressing enthusiasm as well as concern about the guidelines and their effectiveness. Read more Press Clipping \| 13 January 2010 The politics of climate Dr. Vandana Shiva of the Navdanya Trust reviews the Copenhagen conference and its underlying politics. Coming from a Global South perspective, he finds little basis for continued delay in action or the implicit assumption that present economic dominance by the Global North and certain polluters must be maintained at all costs. Read more Update \| 11 January 2010 BIC comments on U.S. Dept. of Treasury's new guidance for developing coal power On December 14th, the U.S. Treasury released a note titled "Guidance to MDBs for Engaging with Developing Countries on Coal-Fired Power Generation" which will guide how U.S. representatives to MDBs deal with proposed coal projects. Here, BIC comments on the functionality of the new policy. Read more Update \| 7 January 2010 U.S. Treasury guidance note for MDB coal investments In December 2009, the U.S. Treasury released a guidance note intended to be adapted by individual MDBs and incorporated into their respective operational policies, country and sector strategies, and other procedures that are related to the public or private project cycle for coal-powered generation operations. Read more Press Clipping \| 22 December 2009 Foreign Policy: Coal for Christmas Phil Radford, executive director of Greenpeace USA, writes a rebuttal to the World Bank on their energy lending and argues that they are still quite far from being a "climate-friendly" bank. Read more Press Clipping \| 15 December 2009 Carbon dating the World Bank Using BIC's recently published numbers on World Bank energy lending, Richard Mahapatra of InfoChange India writes about the "carbon trap" that the World Bank is locking developing countries into for the next 30 to 40 years. Read more Update \| 14 December 2009 Ugandan environmentalist speaks out on large dams, renewable energy, and poverty alleviation In his op-ed featured on All Africa, Frank Muramuzi of the National Association of Professional Environmentalists analyzes the World Bank’s disastrous approach to energy lending, focusing specifically upon large hydropower projects in Uganda. He emphasizes the point that the Bank’s current policies lead to more poverty, further widening the gap between the rich and the poor. Read more Press Clipping \| 14 December 2009 Amazon projects undercut Brazil's new green path Straddling one the Amazon's main tributaries and flanked by dense jungle, a construction pit the size of a small town bustles with bulldozers and nearly 10,000 workers blasting huge slabs of rock off the river bank. Read more Update \| 14 December 2009 GroundWork/Friends of the Earth South Africa publish new report on the World Bank and Eskom As the World Bank is expediting a $3.75 billion dollar loan to the South African power utility Eskom, mostly for the coal fired Medupi power station, a new report from South African NGO GroundWork looks at the state of Eskom, and what the influx of money will mean for the company and the country. Read more Press Clipping \| 11 December 2009 Colombia seeking support for biofuels Colombia asserts that it does not deforest to clear land for palm plantations and is seeking support for investment in biofuels. The Minister of Environment proposes zoning of national territory to identify appropriate zones for palm plantations "so that we all have a clear understanding of where we should go with palm plantations in this country and to avoid unorganized, poorly planned development". Read more Press Clipping \| 9 December 2009 Banking on coal: Why is the World Bank subsidizing one of the planet's dirtiest fuels? Phil Radford, Executive Director of Greenpeace USA, has written an Op-Ed for Foreign Policy on the World Bank and coal. He argues that there is a contradiction between the Bank's stated goals about reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the continued funding for coal centered projects. Read more Update \| 9 December 2009 Heinrich Boell Foundation publishes new paper on forestry in Congo Basin BIC board member and environmental expert Korinna Horta considers the challenges and opportunities for REDD and forest governance in the Congo Basin region. Read more Press Clipping \| 8 December 2009 NASA scientist calls for urgency on climate change action James Hansen, the scientist who drew attention to the Bush administration's manipulation of climate change data, says that despite improved rhetoric, politicians are still engaged in "greenwash" and that they are seeking to continue business as usual. Read more Press Clipping \| 4 December 2009 A humanitarian disaster in the making along the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline -- Who's watching? Nine years after the Chad-Cameroon oil pipeline was begun, and one year after IBRD and IDA pulled out, attention has faded fast. The disasterous effects of the project, however, are just beginning. Read more Update \| 4 December 2009 Prince of Wales Rainforests Project Features Madeira River Dams Read more Press Clipping \| 2 December 2009 International banks join to support strong climate deal The major IFIs have appealed to the governments meeting at Copenhagen to come to a comprehensive agreement on climate change mitigation, pledging to use their own resources to contribute. Some are critical, however, of how ready these institutions are to tackle the issues involved. Read more Update \| 1 December 2009 Expanding global cooperation on climate justice Former president of Ireland Mary Robinson and Senior Fellow at the Miller Institute Alice Miller have written a new article about the social impacts of climate change. They argue that if the World Bank is going to be the default institution for climate financing, it can vastly improve its practices to live up to this role. Read more Press Clipping \| 1 December 2009 García encourages more hyrdoelectric dams The Peruvian head of state reiterated the country's need to become a great energy power in South America. Read more Press Clipping \| 30 November 2009 IDB approves funds for Misicuni hydroelectric project The Bolivian government and IDB have signed funding agreements totaling US$262mn to finance a number of development initiatives in the country, according to a communications official at IDB's Bolivian office. Read more Press Clipping \| 30 November 2009 Brazil: Development bank funds destructive projects, say activists Public money in Brazil is being used by the state development bank to finance deforestation projects and others that trample rights, concentrate wealth, and encourage "imperialist" expansion of large national companies, according to activists at a three-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro. Read more Press Clipping \| 25 November 2009 Peru and Brazil to sign deal on waterways The project, to be signed next December, will allow both countries to take advantage of transport via the Huallaga, Marañón and Amazon rivers. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 November 2009 Eskom official sees World Bank loan decision in H1 2010 South Africa's power company believes that the World Bank will make a decision about whether to loan up to $5 billion to the company in the first half of 2010. The money would go toward the construction of the Medupi coal fired power station, as well as other energy projects throughout the country. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 November 2009 Messing around with dams The Inambari dam would flood 120 km of the Interoceanic Highway, on which upgrading work has already begun. It seems that in both Peru and Brazil the ministries of transport and of energy don’t talk to each other. Read more Update \| 23 November 2009 Conservationists Fight Proposed Amazon Road "The new roads and waterways have to be built, but built in compliance with local communities looking for protection of the forest," said Marina Silva, a senator from the western Brazilian state of Acre, and the country's former environment minister. Read more Press Clipping \| 17 November 2009 Puno residents express opposition to the construction of Inambari hydroelectric dam Documents from the informational forum held in Madre de Dios stated that the hydroelectric center's reservoir would flood all territory below 540 meter above sea level, covering approximately 410 square kilometers. Read more Press Clipping \| 17 November 2009 Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon dropped by 45% in 12 months In a statement from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Brazilian government announced that the rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon was reduced by 45% between August 2008 and July 2009 compared to the previous year. Read more Press Clipping \| 17 November 2009 UN: Mexico forsees signing emissions reduction pact by end of 2010 Two days after the United States and China again refused to sign an agreement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the United Nations expressed its expectation that a legally binding international agreement on the issue will be ratified in Mexico in late 2010. Read more Update \| 13 November 2009 IIRSA: Development for business, an attack on lives The following video was presented to the Inter-American Comission on Human Rights in Washington, protesting the construction of mega-projects financed by the World Bank and IDB. Read more Press Clipping \| 11 November 2009 Stringent conditions to be met before Norway funds to Guyana released Guyana and Norway on Monday inked an agreement that will see Oslo paying up to a total of US$250 million by 2015 for Guyana to preserve its forests. Norway will provide financial support to Guyana based on its success in limiting emissions, enabling Guyana to begin implementation of its Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Terms of the deal stipulate Guyana must take action on issues of transparency and accountability before any money is disbursed. Read more Press Clipping \| 10 November 2009 Civil society demands public consultation before implementation of Inambari Hydroelectric Project Parliament Representative from Puno, Susana Vilca Achata, presented a declaration from civil society of the Carabaya province to the vice minister of Energy and Mining, Daniel Camac Gutiérrez, in which they demanded public consultation before construction of the Inambari mega-project. Read more Press Clipping \| 10 November 2009 “Inambari will cause more damage than Camisea” Ex Minister of Energy and Mining, Carlos Herrera Descalzi, asserts that Peru's energy demand over the next several years puts the country at a disadvantage regarding the hydroelectric project. Read more Press Clipping \| 10 November 2009 Indigenous groups file claim against IIRSA Indigenous groups from Bolivia, Brazil and Peru filed a case against their respective governments Nov. 2 in the Washington-based Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, alleging that the Initiative for the Integration of Regional Infrastructure in South America, or IIRSA, is causing collective human rights violations against their communities. Read more Press Clipping \| 9 November 2009 Evo Morales demands that IMF pay for ecological damages The Bolivian president demanded today that the "gendarmes of the global economy" pay for damages that the capitalist system has caused to the environment. Read more Update \| 6 November 2009 Climate financing and the World Bank – The IMF and the World Bank to the rescue? The World Bank is moving to become one of the major institutions taking on climate change through its Climate Investment Funds, among other policies. However, Heinrich Boell Foundation president Barbara Unmuessig believes that without reforms, the Bank will not be able to effectively or fairly alter the course on global warming. Read more Update \| 3 November 2009 Flor de Ucayali affected by Pucallpa – Cruzeiro de Sul segment of IIRSA The 220 km IIRSA project will cut through territory of the indigenous communities of Flor de Ucayali and others in the Iskonahua Territorial reserve. Indigenous groups have expressed concern over the consequences forced contact could have on these groups, which live in voluntary isolation. Read more Press Release \| 2 November 2009 Inter-American Commission on Human Rights examines impacts oflarge dams in Latin America Read more Press Clipping \| 30 October 2009 The Bujagali Hydro BIC's Africa Program Manager, Josh Klemm, is quoted in a This is Africa article about the problematic $860 million Bujagali Hydropower plant project in Uganda, financed, in part, by the IFC. Read more Update \| 29 October 2009 Forests Much More Than Carbon Storage The bid to include forests in initiatives to mitigate climate change is turning out to be a sensitive issue for the planet. Read more Press Clipping \| 29 October 2009 Ecuador President says rich world should pay poor countries not to pollute "Climate change has been produced principally by the rich countries, but it most affects the countries of the third world," President Rafael Correa said in London. Read more Press Clipping \| 26 October 2009 New project will divert waters from Huallaga and Marañón rivers to the Santa River basin The “Corina” megaproject will require a total investment of US$ 10 billion, to be provided by the central government and private capital sources. Read more Press Clipping \| 26 October 2009 350 reasons why carbon trading won’t work There are many reasons to oppose carbon trading. The most important is that carbon trading will not address climate change. Rising Tide North America together with Carbon Trade Watch and the Camp for Climate Action is launching a new website, 350 Reasons. Governments should not be looking for innovative ways to create loopholes for polluters or to create fortunes for carbon traders. Instead we need to dramatically reduce emissions – quickly. Read more Update \| 22 October 2009 Carbon scam: the Noel Kempff project in Bolivia A report recently released by Greenpeace illustrates clearly why REDD offset projects will neither address climate change nor stop deforestation. The report questions the claims made by the project developers about leakage, additionality, permanence and the ability of the project developers to measure accurately the amount of carbon stored in the forest. Read more Update \| 21 October 2009 Brazilian social and environmental movements reject carbon trading Representatives from social and environmental organisations and movements met recently for two days in Belém, Pará state, Brazil to discuss REDD. After the meeting they produced the following letter calling on the Government of Brazil to reject REDD as a carbon market-based mechanism, and as a way of compensating emissions from Northern countries. Read more Press Clipping \| 21 October 2009 Mexico: World Bank Loans $1.5 Billion To Lower Emissions Read more Press Clipping \| 21 October 2009 World Bank approves 1.5 billion dollar loan for Mexico It was confirmed yesterday that Mexico will receive 1.504 billion dollars in financing for “encouraging green growth”; the loan will focus on economic strengthening and environmental programs. Read more Update \| 20 October 2009 Construction of hydroelectric projects in the Amazon should protect national interests Declaration of the Peruvian College of Engineers (CIP) published in El Comercio October 19 Read more Press Clipping \| 19 October 2009 Lula and Uribe promote Amazon country summit The two leaders are pushing for the meeting in hopes that "all countries in the region with Amazon territory arrive at the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen in December of this year with a unified strategy ", explained Lula da Silva. Read more Press Clipping \| 19 October 2009 International Climate Justice Tribunal begins its first hearing The tribunal will hold its first hearing in Cochabamba, Bolivia today, judging the multinationals and states responsible for global warming and violating the rights of the people and Mother Nature. Read more Press Clipping \| 8 October 2009 Eletrobras considering partnership in 800 Mw hydroelectric project in Guyana At a ceremony in Roraima, Lula announced that Minister of Mines and Energy, Edison Lobao and president of the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES), Luciano Coutinho will meet in Guyana in October to discuss the matter with Guyanese president Bharrat Jagdeo. Read more Update \| 8 October 2009 IFC Board Approves Gas Investment to Support Economic Growth in Peru Read more Press Clipping \| 8 October 2009 Troy is burning: Who will benefit from the Inambari hydroelectric project? “It's difficult to say whether Inambari or the other dams will represent a benefit to Peru. What is evident is that the construction of large dams on Amazonian rivers will have enormous economic repercussions in terms of foreign debt, and obviously extreme social and environmental impacts. The truth is that we are obligated to reflect on these impacts before embarking on construction”, said Marc Dourojeanni, consultant to the IDB. Read more Press Clipping \| 8 October 2009 CIP accused of altering conclusions of Inambari forum Sociedad Civil por la Carretera Transoceánica (SOCIT) accused the College of Engineers of Peru (CIP) of altering the final conclusions of the Regional Forum “Construction of the Inambari Hydroelectric Station", organized and hosted by the college August 28 and 29. Read more Press Clipping \| 8 October 2009 Cesar Hildebrandt calls for referendum before the construction of the Inambari Hydroelectric Station The renowed journalist stated on Pachamama Radio that the construction of the Inambari Hydroelectric Station should be decided through a referedum, given what he described as an attitude of conquest and disrespect toward local regions among authorities in Lima. Read more Press Clipping \| 8 October 2009 Inambari Hydroelectric Station could be given permanent concession National congresswoman Susana Vilca warned that granting definitive concession to the Inambari Hyrdoelectric Station to EGASUR would be permanent, as stipulated in the Law of Electric Concessions. Definitive concessions for the development of electric projects are granted for unspecified periods of time. Read more Press Clipping \| 7 October 2009 Conclusions from the Regional Forum “Construction of the Inambari Hydroelectric Station” In the Regional Forum “Construction of the Inambari Hydroelectric Station” which took place August 28 and 29, the College of Engineers of Peru reached some critical conclusions surrounding the proposed hydroelectric project. Read more Press Clipping \| 7 October 2009 Belo Monte project will cost R$16 billion The estimate, which does not consider transmission, includes the provision of tax exemptions, the cost of training of the Special Purpose Company (SPC) and the cost of insurance. "This was the value quoted to TCU as the result of a study on investment optimization" says Mauricio Tolmasquim, president of EPE. Read more Press Clipping \| 7 October 2009 Belo Monte: little energy for many damages Disregard of environmental impacts, lack of foresight on how to compensate the families who will be impacted by the work, and overestimation of energy and jobs that will be generated. According to investigators, prosecutors and civil society organizations, these are just some of the flaws in the Environmental Impact Assessment of the hydroelectric plant of Belo Monte, planned for construction on the Xingu River. Read more Press Clipping \| 28 September 2009 Desertification - a Macroeconomic Problem Understanding desertification as a macroeconomic problem, with financial, productive, environmental and civil society aspects, is a major concern for Christian Mersmann, the managing director of the Global Mechanism of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Read more Update \| 17 September 2009 IDB begins consultation on Ninth Global Capital Increase Read more Update \| 9 September 2009 IFC suspends palm oil funding In response to pressure from civil society and a CAO report detailing violations of the IFC's social and environmental standards in Indonesia, IFC agreed to suspend all palm oil financing until the gaps in procedures that allowed these violations to happen are closed. Over the next six months, IFC will study how failures have happened in the palm oil sector and how they can be overcome in the future. Read more Update \| 28 August 2009 Where is the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Program going? After meeting with World Bank President, Robert Zoellick, Israel’s Deputy Prime Minister of Regional Development, Silvan Shalom, stated that the World Bank had agreed to fund the Red-Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Program that involves Jordan, Palestine and Israel. However, Bank officials say that they have made no promises and that the project is still in the feasibility study phase. Read more Press Clipping \| 20 August 2009 The Madeira hydroelectric complex can negatively affect the environment Brazil is building hydroelectric dams in the Amazon that some technicians and economists applaud while several environmentalists regret. It is worth the risk and investment? Read more Press Clipping \| 20 August 2009 Construction of Jirau and San Antonio dams change the life of the region An examination of how the hydroelectric plants of Jirau and Santo Antônio will impact the environment and the lives of Amazonian communities. Read more Press Release \| 10 August 2009 World Bank violates its own standards developing oil palm sector in Indonesia The World Bank’s private sector arm – the International Finance Corporation (IFC) – has allowed commercial interests to override its social and environmental standards in making major loans to the oil palm sector in Indonesia, an internal audit reveals. Read more Press Clipping \| 9 August 2009 Huepetuhe, the land of sexual trafficking Puerto Maldonaldo, Madre de Dios, in heart of the Peruvian jungle, is the home to some of the worst offenses of sexual trafficking of minors. Read more Press Clipping \| 7 August 2009 Discontent with construction of the Inambari Hydroelectric Project The project of constructing the Inambari mega-hydroelectric dam is generating discontent in the various affected communities in the province of Carabaya, who demand respect for the lands dedicated to agriculture. Read more Update \| 30 July 2009 Put the Brakes on the Bank: Carbon Finance in Indonesia Read a BIC op-ed in The Huffington Post about Indonesia's problematic Readiness Preparation Proposal to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility. Read more Press Clipping \| 6 July 2009 New crisis in the Nile: geologist warns that Egypt may lose 8mn cubic mtrs of water for next 20 yrs Will the new crisis in the Nile affect the implementation of the West Delta project? Read more Update \| 30 June 2009 Is the Clean Technology Fund benefiting the poor or simply satisfying the energy needs of the rich? The World Bank approves loans for renewable energy in southern countries while making sure Europe meets its energy goals. 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 \| 28 June 2009 IFC & Climate: When the learning curve is long After an abrupt about-face, an agency frets about its footprint Read more Update \| 27 June 2009 REDD:Peru-ving REDD: Lessons from Peru for Combating Deforestation One of the key issues in Copenhagen climate change negotiations in December will be the creation of an international superstructure to provide incentives, and ultimately payments, to combat deforestation in tropical countries. As delegates from around the world gathered in Bonn last week to discuss the so-called "REDD issue" (e.g., reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation), violence erupted in the rainforests of Peru between indigenous groups and the government about plans to step up oil and gas exploration, mining, and logging in the Amazon. Read more Update \| 23 June 2009 Egyptian Ministry of finance partners with multinational companies in West Delta project The Egyptian government's engagement in the West Delta project raises many questions regarding the repayment of the World Bank's loan. 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 Update \| 22 June 2009 The Amazon Rainforest is More Important than Electric Cars Someone should contact Neil Young and tell him to stop making albums about electric cars and start writing songs about the Amazon. While I write this in jest, the boringness of someone pulling your ear about the devastation of deforestation should still be as important as talking about topics such as the duel between San Francisco and Portland for electric car supremacy. Read more Update \| 19 June 2009 Peruvian congress votes 82 – 12 to repeal two controversial laws Government urged to drop criminal charges against indigenous leaders and allow independent investigation into violent incidents in Bagua, Peru Read more Update \| 16 June 2009 Questions on hydroelectric power plants in the Peruvian Amazon Region Negotiations are underway for the construction of six hydroelectric power plants in the Peruvian Amazon Region in a joint initiative of Alan Garcia and Lula da Silva. Serious inquires about the nature of the intiative and its implications for the region are not resolved which signals further problems. Read more Update \| 2 June 2009 Globalization Continues Destruction of the Amazon Rainforest The debate surrounding carbon markets and REDD is polarizing and multi-faceted, especially for the Amazonian populations. 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 \| 22 May 2009 Scientists agree on the need for energy alternatives in Amazon Two day conference underscores the need for improvements in the quality of social, environmental and economic evaluation, as well as the search for energy alternatives. Read more Press Clipping \| 19 May 2009 Huge Bolivian glacier disappears The World Bank warned earlier this year that many of the Andes' tropical glaciers will disappear within 20 years. 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 \| 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 \| 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 Press Clipping \| 11 May 2009 Bloodletting in Narino - Ties to IIRSA Amazonas Corridor Read more Update \| 7 May 2009 Peru holds public hearings on 2,000 MW Inambari dam Peru is rushing to hold superficial public meetings to inform the public about plans to build the fifth largest hydroelectric dam in Latin America. Read more Press Clipping \| 1 May 2009 Indigenous leaders get assurances on forestry use and management At the recent Guiana Shield meeting, the Commissioner of Forest, Mr. James Singh, assured indigenous leaders that their communities will be consulted and included in the decision processes for the REDD project (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). Read more Update \| 1 May 2009 Indigenous peoples of Guiana Shield agree on action plan Read more Press Clipping \| 1 May 2009 Indigenous leaders of the Guianas meet in Georgetown Read more Update \| 30 April 2009 The government is not ready to ratify UN Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples Groups representing indigenous people of Guyana and the Amazon fear that climate change is superseding the guarantee of actions towards ensuring the rights of the indigenous people. Trevor Stevenson, Executive Director of the Amazon Alliance, is one of those who supports this view. He was in Guyana last week for the meeting of indigenous leaders of Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana. Read more Press Clipping \| 27 April 2009 The FI-FGTS will become a shareholder of the Madeira river complex In a time when the financial market is lacking credit, the fund for investment in infrastructure which derives its resources from the FGTS (FI-FGTS) will contribute R$ 1,640 billion in financing to the construction of the San Antonio hydroelectric plant in the Madeira river, and become a shareholder of the consortium. Read more Press Clipping \| 18 April 2009 New rules for environmental licensing will benefit PAC's highways Criticized by the Ministry of Environment, a streamlined licensing process should reach 40% of the roads listed in the federal program Read more Press Clipping \| 18 April 2009 We must go beyond an agreement between Banks and the Ministry of Environment The Ministry of Environment announced an agreement with the Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban) incorporating environmental criteria and guidelines for the release of credits to companies and ventures. While representing an improvement regarding to the enviromental impacts made by some investments, the coordinator of the Eco-Project Finance and the organization Friends of the Earth - Brazilian Amazon, Roland Widmer, warns that for the agreement to be effective, more it needs to be done. Read more Press Clipping \| 17 April 2009 NGOs oppose licensing to pave roads in the Amazon Civil society organizations have written a letter expressing their opposition to a measure that would allow the paving of roads through the Amazon. Read more Press Clipping \| 16 April 2009 Amazon could shrink by 85% due to climate change, scientists say Scientists say 4°C rise would kill 85% of the Amazon rainforest. Even modest temperature rise would see 20-40% loss within 100 years Read more Press Clipping \| 16 April 2009 The paradox of the Amazon On the one hand, Brazil made some improvements reducing the rate of deforestation. On the other hand, IIRSA prevents the country from achieving its national environmental goals while deforestation puts the survival of the entire planet at risk. Deforestation is the cause of 20% of the world's global warming - more than the effects of all automobiles. Read more Press Clipping \| 15 April 2009 Strike in the Amazon of Peru The Machiguengas took over Petrobras' ships in the Bajo Urubamba river Read more Update \| 14 April 2009 Interoceanica Sur Highway in Peru faces new cost overuns 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 \| 19 March 2009 Brazil and Bolivia discuss hydroelectric dams of Rio Madeira Bolivians fear negative impacts from two dams (part of the Rio Madeira) in Bolivian territory. The Brazilian Minister, Celso Amorim assures the Bolivian government that the construction of the dams will not have these negative impacts. Read more Update \| 13 March 2009 Four Bolivians arrested during demonstration in Brazil Read more Update \| 10 March 2009 Citizen observatory for Manta-Manaos project is created Read more Update \| 27 February 2009 Update on Forest Carbon Partnership Facility BIC to serve as NGO observer at the next meeting of the Committee of Participants for the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) that will take place on March 11-13 in Panama, Central America. Read more Update \| 20 February 2009 IFC approves offshore oil projects in Ghana despite serious outstanding concerns Civil society requests for a delay go unanswered as the project is approved in the absence of an environmental impact assessment and amid significant transparency and governance issues. Read more Update \| 18 February 2009 World Bank violated policies and misinformed Board in Albania project Panel finds policy violations, provision of false information, and direct support for controversial demolition of homes in an Albanian village Read more Update \| 18 February 2009 World Bank Board acts on Inspection Panel Albania report Zoellick: "Bank's record with this project is appalling." Executive Directors acknowledge mistakes in Jale home demolitions and approve action plan. Read more Update \| 10 February 2009 Declaration of the Coordinator of the Amazon Basin Indigenous Peoples Organization (COICA) The Amazon Basin Indigenous Peoples Organization (COICA) with our worldview, diversity of languages, history, cultures, spirituality, territory, economy, have existed since before recorded time. We have adopted different forms of organization and identity under the framework of the nation states which have established laws and regulations according to their own interests, not recognizing the ancestral rights of the first inhabitants of the amazon 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 Press Clipping \| 1 January 2009 Land conflicts continue in Rondonia The state of Rondonia, Brazil is subject to ongoing land conflicts between large land owners, small farmers and the state. The proposed hydroelectric dams on the Madeira River and the promise of jobs will only accelerate uncontrolled migration to the region. Weak governance results in frequent, violent confrontations over natural resource use. Read more Press Clipping \| 29 December 2008 CAF lends $US 300 mn. for Peru Southern Interoceanic Highway Read more Press Clipping \| 29 December 2008 World Bank to train Brazilian state governments to capture FDI A new agreement between Brazil, the World Bank and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies is intended to train Brazilian state governments on reforms to local regulatory and licensing frameworks to facilitate great foreign direct investment in infrastructure projects. Read more Update \| 29 December 2008 New book by INESC - Financing for Megaprojects A new book of articles edited by Ricardo Verdum of the Brazilian Instituto de Estudio Socioeconomicos (Inesc) explores the trends in financing for megaprojects in South America. The book highlights the shifting balance between IFIs such as the World Bank, the IDB and CAF toward new institutions such as BNDES, as well as the competition between IIRSA and UNASUR. The book emphasizes the urgency for greater transparency and accountability in information and decision making about large, high risk infrastructure in the region. Read more Update \| 26 December 2008 Colombia issues environmental license for Pasto Mocoa highway IDB Loan Approval Set for early 2009: The $200 million road project in Putumayo, Colombia is an anchor project for the IIRSA Amazonas Corridor and will unlock commercial traffic between the ports of Tumaco and Belem, as well as between Bogota and Quito. Read more Press Clipping \| 24 December 2008 Madeira dam operator responsible for massive fish kill The Madeira Energy S/A (Mesa) business consortium, responsible for the construction of the Santo Antônio 3,100 MW hydroelectric dam, the first of several mega-dams planned for the Madeira in the Brazilian state of Rondônia, was fined R$ 7,7 million ($US 3.3 million) by the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (Ibama) as a penalty for their responsibility in the ecological accidente that resulted in the death of 11 tons of fish. 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 \| 23 December 2008 Update on Oct. 30 Madeira bilateral technical commission meeting The October meeting between the Brazilian and Bolivian bilerateral technical commission on the Madeira Hydroelectric Dam and related projects focused on new technical research related to the cross-border health effects of the project. Read more Update \| 22 December 2008 Banks step back from two hydroelectric projects in Madeira River The financial crisis and environmental risks have affected the willingness of banks to finance the mega-hydroelectric project which would cost R$21 billion. Santander and Banif are facing difficulties in attaining funds for San Antonio Dam; and Itau has already given up on Jirau and San Antonio. Read more Update \| 19 December 2008 $5 billion in World Bank loans in the works for South Africa’s power utility African Development Bank also contributing record loans to address power shortage. Read more Update \| 18 December 2008 West African Gas Pipeline comes online at last Meanwhile, people displaced by the project finally receive monetary compensation, nearly four years after being impoverished through a resettlement process that denied them the option of the land compensation they were entitled to. Read more Update \| 16 December 2008 Stakeholders convened in Cairo to debate contentious issues surrounding the West Delta project Concerned parties threaten to file a court case against the Egyptian government if they do not receive satisfactory answers. Read more Update \| 11 December 2008 Over 160 CSOs issue joint statement calling for UN climate fund Civil society groups argue that the fund is essential to any new global climate agreement involving the large-scale transfer of financial resources to help poorer nations reduce emissions that cause global climate change. Read more Update \| 8 December 2008 ADB watchdog submits critique on Safeguards Review Network charges that poor quality of 2nd draft implies that President Kuroda has been unable to convince the ADB bureaucracy to uphold and support his vision of the ADB as the leading regional development organization on poverty alleviation and climate change. Read more Press Clipping \| 2 December 2008 World Bank FCPF: NGOs say it’s “failing forests and peoples”. Indigenous leader calls for suspension of REDD activities. 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 October 2008 Debt for conservation agreement: US$25 million for conserving Peru’s rainforest The governments of the United States and Peru have reached an agreement to reduce Peru’s debt payments in exchange for protecting Peru’s tropical forests. Read more Update \| 20 October 2008 Peru launches committee on climate change dialogue and strategy Committee aims to address the negative impacts of climate change in the region of Tumbes. Read more Update \| 14 October 2008 International Rivers releases new report on dam building in Laos International Rivers has just released a new report "Power Surge," which chronicles the social and environmental debt created by a boom in hydropower development in Laos. Read more Update \| 24 September 2008 Dramatic increase in World Bank loans to Europe and Central Asia The World Bank Group (WBG) loans to countries in Europe and Central Asia (ECA) increased by 30% between FY07 and FY08. Read more Update \| 19 September 2008 EBRD approves Pechora Energy Project in Komi Republic The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a US$50 million loan for expansion of oil and gas extraction operations in the Timan-Pechora basin of the northern Komi Republic in Russia. Various civil society groups have raised concerns of the major project's implications for the environment and the indigenous Komi-Izhemts people's rights. Read more Update \| 18 September 2008 Additional challenges for the BTC Pipeline Following the August 25 reopening of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline after the armed conflict in Georgia, the BTC has faced several technical and strategic issues when it comes to its future and viability. Read more Update \| 22 August 2008 The IFIs and financial intermediaries in ECA: Implementation of environmental and social standards International Financial Institution (IFI) lending through financial intermediaries (FIs) has become particularly significant in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, but the IFIs lack adequate policies to ensure social and environmental best practices are applied to subsequent FI lending. Read more Press Release \| 21 August 2008 Global civil society calls for private banks to withdraw support from Bangladesh coal mine Over 100 civil society groups from 31 countries are calling on financial backers to withdraw their support from the the controversial Phulbari Coal Project in Bangladesh. The project will displace over 200,000 people, impoverish farming households and cause immense environmental impacts in one of the most fertile regions of Bangladesh. Despite these factors, according to information available on its website, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) remains interested in financing the project after having distanced itself from it earlier this year. Read more Update \| 18 August 2008 World Bank announces countries eligible for avoided-deforestation credits Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and five other African countries were included in a list of 14 that will take part in the Bank's controversial Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF). Read more Press Release \| 14 August 2008 IFC and leading international banks do not have a robust framework for minimizing human rights risks A new study finds that international project financiers, including the leading international banks and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), do not have a robust framework for minimizing the social risks posed by their projects. Read more Press Release \| 5 August 2008 World Bank acknowledges serious flaws in West African Gas Pipeline But questions on compensation for displaced, “upstream” impacts, and gas flaring remain unanswered. Read more Update \| 30 July 2008 The World Bank as a Knowledge Producer The author, Shripad Dharmadhikary, examines why being a knowledge provider is so important to the World Bank, and how the Bank uses its research and knowledge services to intervene in the policy making of borrowing countries. The Bank Information Center supported the distribution of this book so as to highlight this little discussed role of the World Bank. Read more Update \| 18 July 2008 World Bank provides additional financing to electricity and water projects in West Bank and Gaza The World Bank has agreed to additional financing for electricity and water projects in the West Bank and Gaza. But the reach of the assistance to the most needy, and the effects on curbing high utility bills are still questionable. Read more Update \| 8 July 2008 World Bank signs new emission reductions purchase agreement in Egypt The World Bank will buy 325,480 tons of carbon credits from Egyptian Company for Solid Waste Utilization (ECARU) on behalf of governments and companies in Organisation for Econmic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Read more Update \| 1 July 2008 BIC's new handbook for advocacy on extractive industry revenues Bank Information Center has recently released it's new "Handbook for Advocacy on Extractive Industry Revenues: Good Practices and the IMF’s Guide on Resource Revenue Transparency." Read more Update \| 21 June 2008 Newmont prepares mining operations in Ghana forest reserve As Newmont, the world's largest mining company prepares for gold mining operations in Ghana, civil society groups challenge the purported benefits for local communities. Meanwhile, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has come under fire for the environmental and social legacies of its gold mining investments in Ghana and its plans proceed to begin the next phase of Newmont's controversial Ahafo gold project. Read more Update \| 18 June 2008 Questions remain unanswered surrounding the Red Sea – Dead Sea Canal as feasibility study begins The World Bank’s support for the $15.5 million feasibility studies continues to raise questions about the Bank’s application of its operational safeguard policies on the project. Read more Press Release \| 9 April 2008 Kazakh environmentalists win access to emissions data at Karachaganak In a victory for environmental groups, the Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of Green Salvation, a environmental group, in a precedent setting lawsuit seeking access to environmental information about atmospheric emissions at the Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate Field in western Kazakhstan. Read more Update \| 7 April 2008 Joint Bretton Woods Project Update # 60 Read the special Spring Meetings edition of the Bretton Woods Update, co-produced with Afrodad, Bank Information Center, Choike, and Eurodad. The issue is also available in Spanish. Read more Press Release \| 4 April 2008 ADB pulls out of controversial coal project in Bangladesh The Director of the Asian Development Bank’s Private Sector Operations Department, Robert Bestani, notified the Bank’s Board of Directors last week that it will take the Phulbari Coal Project in Bangladesh out of the Bank’s funding pipeline. Read more Update \| 3 April 2008 Vacancy: World Bank Inspection Panel Updated April 10, 2008: The World Bank's Inspection Panel is recruiting qualified applicants to fill a vacancy in its three-member team. Regional balance considerations could likely mean selection of a candidate from the South East Asia region. The closing date for applications has been extended to April 30, 2008. Read more Update \| 3 April 2008 Indigenous peoples neglected by realigned IDB As a result of the Inter-American Development Bank's (IDB) recent realignment, indigenous issues are now demoted within a Bank that touts its credentials for social inclusion. Read more Update \| 28 March 2008 Growing foreign appetite for Brazilian land As wealthy local and foreign investors purchase more and more Brazilian land, wuestions over how to contain rising land prices emerge. Read more Update \| 17 January 2008 Phulbari resistance documentary Phulbari resistance groups produce first documentary video. Read more Update \| 16 January 2008 Rebuked by internal investigation, World Bank plans to do more in DRC forest sector, but will it do better? An Inspection Panel report on the World Bank’s safeguard policy violations in its Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) forest sector operations prompts discussion on new approach and greater role for Pygmies in decision-making about the future of the world’s second-largest rainforest. Read more Update \| 16 January 2008 South Asian CSOs boycott ADB consultations Close to fifty people representing social movements in India and other parts of South Asia delivered a boycott statement to Asian Development Bank officials in New Delhi on January 16th, at the start of the Bank's consultations on its Draft Safeguard Policy Statement. The organised protest consisted of slogans and plackards, one of which read: "End to Lending." Read more Press Release \| 15 January 2008 ADB faces boycott of its "safeguards" policy consultations Civil society groups from South Asia are planning to boycott the Asian Development Bank's consultation meeting on its safeguards policy update, to be held in New Delhi, India tomorrow. The groups, from India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh state that the ADB's consultation draft, released in October 2007, greatly dilutes the Bank's earlier policies on Environment (2002), Involuntary Resettlement (1995) and Indigenous Peoples (1998), and is opposed to indigenous peoples’ rights and subverts environmental considerations. Read more Update \| 14 January 2008 NGOs call on ADB to abandon controversial coal project in Bangladesh Citing violations of five of the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) own policies, non-governmental organizations from around the world have petitioned the ADB to discontinue its pre-appraisal of the Phulbari Coal Project and remove it from the funding pipeline. Read more Update \| 13 December 2007 Loans to Hunt Oil’s Peruvian fossil fuel project challenged A high level delegation of indigenous, civil society and Parliamentarian leaders from Peru are in Washington, DC to lobby against the expected vote on public loans for the Peru LNG natural gas liquification plant. The delegation argues that by approving the project, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Ex-Im Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), would breach their own social and environmental safeguards. Read more Press Release \| 11 December 2007 Press Release: World Bank hands off forests Environmental groups gathered in Bali for the United Nations convention on climate change warn that the World Bank's market-oriented Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), launched today, will have negative social and environmental impacts. Citing the Bank's poor track record in the forest sector and ongoing support for fossil fuels, the groups are demanding that forests be kept out of the carbon market and that governments increase their funding for other approaches to forest protection and climate change mitigation. Read more Update \| 4 December 2007 Seeing the forest for the carbon? As the World Bank prepares to launch the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) -- its flagship initiative to address deforestation-related greenhouse gas emissions -- at the United Nations climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, we offer some background on the FCPC and outline the concerns surrounding this controversial new mechanism. Read more Update \| 30 November 2007 Second Latin American Congress of National Parks and Protected Areas The Second Latin American Congress of National Parks and Protected Areas held in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina was the largest gathering of environmental organizations working in Latin America since the last Congress in 1997, held in Santa Marta. Read Vince McElhinny's recap of the events of the Congress. Read more Update \| 29 November 2007 European Parliament passes resolution to end taxpayer support for fossil fuel projects Resolution is welcomed by NGOs campaigning to have export credit agencies and public investment banks be held accountable for their actions. Read more Update \| 27 November 2007 Comment: Try as it might, the World Bank cannot hide its failings The World Bank touted it's meeting with a delegation of Pygmies from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the Bank's Annual Meetings in October. But as Simon Counsell of Rainforest Foundation UK points out, the Bank has consistently ignored the findings of the quasi-independent Inspecition Panel and violated its own "safeguard policies." Read more Press Release \| 12 November 2007 Press release: Taman tries the taste of oil Guilt for the environmental catastrophe in the Strait of Kerch lies with the authorities in Russia and Ukraine, as well as with the companies transporting dangerous cargo Read more Update \| 6 November 2007 ADB responds to NGO Forum on demands around safeguards review The NGO Forum on ADB, on October 24 and 25, raised several issues with the ADB around the review of its Safeguard Policies. The ADB responded by agreeing to change dates of two regional consultations and to provide Vietnamese and Bahasa translations of the Consultation Draft. Read more Update \| 19 October 2007 Internal watchdog slams World Bank agriculture programs in Africa since 1991 As the World Bank launches its latest flagship World Development Report, this year on "Agriculture for Development," the Independent Evaluation Group's report clearly acknowledges that the Bank's engagement with the most important sector in its highest-priority region has largely been a failure. Read more Update \| 9 October 2007 World Bank tribunal in The Hague On October 15th, a public hearing on the World Bank will take place in The Hague. The hearing aims to raise the debate on the legitimacy of the World Bank and influence the aid distribution process. Read more Update \| 26 September 2007 Independent People’s Tribunal charges World Bank with serious violations of democracy, human rights and sovereignty In its preliminary findings, the first ever Independent People’s Tribunal on the World Bank in India found that the Bank had an undue and disturbingly negative influence in shaping India’s national policies disproportionate to its contribution, financial or otherwise. Read more Update \| 20 September 2007 Civil society compares ADB safeguard policies with peer institutions Civil society groups monitoring the Asian Development Bank's "safeguard" policies find that the ADB needs to make substantial improvements to catch up with international standards and peer institutions. Read more Update \| 13 September 2007 ADB "safeguards" review sparks resignations Four members of the team tasked with revising the ADB project "safeguards" have resigned in protest against management's efforts to dilute the bank's policies on environment, resettlement and indigenous people. Read more Update \| 17 August 2007 ADB's Energy Strategy must adhere to international standards The Asian Development Bank has completed the consultation process on its draft Energy Strategy. Civil society organizations from throughout the region have called on the ADB to incorporate current international best practices in sector, and at minimum to adopt the principles of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. Read more Update \| 11 July 2007 "Another world is possible; Another U.S. is necessary" forum proclaims The first U.S. Social Forum concluded July 1, having drawn over 10,000 activists to Atlanta, Georgia, for five days of talks on social, economic and political issues. Read more Update \| 14 June 2007 Bank to pilot carbon fund for avoided deforestation The World Bank is preparing to announce a new $250 million fund aimed at using carbon finance to reduce emissions from deforestation. According to recent news reports, world leaders have encouraged the Bank to move forward with plans to create a Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), which would leverage private investor money and donor contributions to help countries develop strategies for avoiding forest degradation and secure payment for forest-related emissions reduction, through the creation of tradable carbon credits. Read more Update \| 5 June 2007 2007 Annual Meetings of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) held its Annual Governors Meeting in Kazan, Russia May 20-21, 2007. The NGO Programme organized by the Bank attracted a large array of civil society organizations from Russia and abroad. While many questions were left unanswered by the Bank, NGOs succeeded in raising issues of critical importance to civil society in Russia and elsewhere. Read more Update \| 17 May 2007 Asian Development Bank will not weaken or dilute existing social and environmental policies, panel told Project affected people and civil society organizations highlight problems with current ADB policies aiming to protect the environment and human rights at a BIC and Oxfam Australia-hosted panel. Read more Update \| 17 May 2007 NGOs organize panel discussion on ADB safeguards At the 40th Annual Asian Development Bank (ADB) AGMs, CSOs outlined major gaps in existing ADB standards and discussed what the ADB should do to meet and surpass the highest international standards as ADB gears up to revamp its Safeguard Policies. Read more Update \| 26 April 2007 World Bank deputy attempted to omit references to climate change World Bank Managing Director, Juan Jose Daboub, apparently tried to delete the words "climate change" from the institution's main environmental strategy paper, reports the Financial Times. Read more Update \| 18 April 2007 World Bank has split personality on global warming The World Bank Group's pledge to reduce greenhouse gases rings hollow as the organization increases assistance for the development of fossil fuels. Read more Update \| 23 February 2007 MIGA reviewing Social, Environmental and Disclosure Policies The World Bank's Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has posted draft policies for public comment until April 27, 2007. Read more Update \| 14 February 2007 Asian Development Bank Postpones Safeguard Policy Update Consultations The consultations were originally scheduled for March 2007. New consultations are tentatively scheduled for the late second quarter of 2007. Read more Update \| 8 February 2007 Asian Development Bank Postpones Safeguards Policy Consultation in Hanoi An ADB Safeguard Policy Consultation was scheduled to take place on March 8, 2007, in Hanoi, Vietnam. This has now been postponed and a new date has not been announced. Read more Update \| 31 January 2007 ADB Postpones South Asia Regional Consultation on its Safeguard Policies The consultation, whose date is yet to be determined, will collect the opinions of stakeholders from eight countries. Read more Update \| 31 January 2007 ADB Prepares for South Asia Regional Consultation on its Safeguard Policies The upcoming consultation aims to collect the opinions of stakeholders in eight countries. Read more Update \| 16 January 2007 EBRD decides against involvement in controversial Sakhalin II project The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has decided not to fund the largest oil and gas project in the world, Sakhalin II, on Russia’s Far Eastern island after several years of consultations. Read more Update \| 6 December 2006 Urgent concerns about Uganda dam go unanswered by World Bank An NGO letter to the World Bank details urgent concerns regarding the Bujagali hydropower project in Uganda, which is being fast-tracked for development early next year. Read more Update \| 21 November 2006 World Bank approves funding for controversial Uruguay pulp mill The World Bank approved $170 million in International Finance Corporation (IFC) financing and $200 million in Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) support for the controversial Botnia pulp mill in Uruguay on Tuesday. Read more Update \| 13 November 2006 Where Oil flows...Debt grows BIC and partners challenge World Bank and US Government controversial support of Big Oil in November 14 Financial Times advertisement. Read more Update \| 8 November 2006 World Bank's new Sustainable Development Network hosts SDN Week 2006 Seminars and training sessions will center on the theme of "Better Governance and Improved Institutions". Some of the events open to participants this week and next include panels and workshops on clean energy, climate change, the IFC performance standards and disclosure policy, and on country systems. Read more Update \| 27 October 2006 World Bank announces appointment of new Director in the Sustainable Development Network Kristalina Georgieva has been selected by the World Bank as the new Director for Strategy and Operations in the Sustainable Development Vice-Presidency. This position was established in June by World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz following the merger of the Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development Network and the Infrastructure Network. Read more Update \| 6 October 2006 Sustaining the Environment at the World Bank In a recent publication, author Frances Seymour of World Resources Institute contends that the evidence has never been stronger that protecting the environment is not only compatible with the World Bank's development objectives, but that it is in fact essential to achieving them. Read more Update \| 18 September 2006 International People's Forum celebrates success; charts way forward In a statement released on the last day of the IPF, the organizers celebrate the success of the event and renew demands for multilateral debt cancellation, transparency and participatory audits of IFI lending and policies, and an end to IFI involvement in privatization of public services and environmentally destructive projects. Read more Update \| 18 September 2006 World Bank Energy Framework Sells Climate and Poor People Short A new NGO report finds that the World Bank's promise to seriously support alternative enery remains unfullfilled. Released in Singapore during the Bank's annual meeting, the report--How the World Bank's Energy Framework Sells the Climate and Poor People Short--calls on the Bank to step up efforts to meet basic energy needs of the poor, to stop subsidizing northern oil companies, and to redirect existing dirty energy financing to renewable technologies and energy efficiency projects. Read more Update \| 31 July 2006 Mainstreaming or undermining sustainability? Read more Update \| 10 July 2006 Private financial sector watchdog comments on new version of the Equator Principles Read more Update \| 7 July 2006 Forty-one private banks revise social and environmental standards The banks known as the Equator Principles Financial Institutions revised standards intended to ensure that projects financed by the institutions are socially and environmentally responsible. The standards are based on the International Finance Corporation's safeguard policies. Read more Update \| 28 June 2006 World Bank environmental department absorbed into larger network Rumors of the pending reorganization have circulated for months, fueling doubts about the Bank's commitment to sustainable development. Read more Update \| 16 June 2006 World Bank Inspection Panel report slams World Bank forestry project in Cambodia Read more Update \| 9 June 2006 World Bank Forest Policy undergoes belated mid-term review The World Bank has initiated its review of the 2002 Forest Policy and Strategy and a draft report will be open for public comments in August. Read more Update \| 18 May 2006 BIC releases Extractive Industries Review Update #7, May 2006 Read more Update \| 4 May 2006 Official Statements made by Development Committee members at the 2006 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings The Development Committee met during last month's IMF/World Bank 2006 Spring Meetings. Agenda included discussion of clean energy and development, and the Global Monitoring Report 2006: Strengthening Mutual Accountability - Aid, Trade and Governance. Read more Update \| 31 March 2006 CAO Finds Lack of Compliance by IFC in Uruguayan Paper Mills In its recently posted audit, the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) found several compliance issues regarding the International Financial Corporation's environmental and social due diligence in considering the Orion-Celulosas de M'Bopicua (CMB) paper mill projects in Uruguay. Read more Update \| 27 March 2006 Fourth World Water Forum ends amidst debate over privatization From March 16-22 in Mexico City the World Water Forum brought together representatives from 148 countries, civil society organizations and private sector actors where debate was largely guided by strong opposition to the privatization of water. Read more Update \| 20 March 2006 Civil Society Says “No to Weakened Standards, Yes to Accountability” during the ADB Safeguards Review In an open letter to Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Kuroda and the Board of Directors, over forty civil society organizations warned against the approach outlined by the ADB in the review of its Environment, Indigenous Peoples, and Involuntary Resettlement Policies, highlighting the potential for drastically weakened standards of social and environmental protections. Read more Update \| 15 March 2006 CAO Posts Comments on IFC Safeguards; Private Sector Review of Equator Principles Begins The Compliance-Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) released last week its comments on the January 25th drafts of the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Safeguards policies, which the IFC approved February 21, 2006. Following the IFC’s lead, a collection of private sector financial institutions intends to complete a review of their guiding policies on social and environmental issues, the Equator Principles. Read more Update \| 13 March 2006 Civil society calls on IFC to address outstanding social and environmental issues Following the approval of IFC financing for Newmont's Ahafo mine in Ghana, the Bank Information Center, Oxfam-America, FoodFirst Information Action Network, Earthworks, WACAM, and ABRANDH sent a letter to IFC repeating the call for urgent action to be taken on unresolved problems related to the social and environmental impacts of the mine. Read more Press Release \| 21 February 2006 Press Release: IFC's New Standards - A Risky Step for People and Planet Warning that the International Finance Corporation’s overhaul of its social and environmental standards relies too heavily on promises of good intentions, international civil society organizations have called the IFC’s new approach a risky experiment that could leave the people and environments affected by its projects more vulnerable than they were before. Also available in Spanish Read more Update \| 15 December 2005 Wolfowitz meets with Guatemalan Civil Society Representatives to Discuss Controversial Marlin Mine The World Bank President met with Mario Tema and Magali Rey Rosa on December 9 Read more Update \| 2 December 2005 BIC Submits Comments on International Finance Corporation Draft Policies These comments address transparency and consultation concerns with the draft IFC Disclosure Policy, Social and Environmental Sustainability Policy and Performance Standards. Read more Update \| 11 November 2005 ADB Posts Discussion Note on Safeguard Policy “Update;” Fails to issue notification or alert; date of posting not known The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has issued its much delayed Discussion Note for the Safeguard Policy “Update” it publicly initiated in July 2005. Read more Update \| 13 October 2005 Affected communities of ADB Sri Lanka highway project: “We are being denied proper compensation” ADB requested to move quickly on establishing an independent resettlement monitoring panel. Read more Update \| 30 September 2005 ADB Responds to Civil Society Letter Regarding Safeguard Policies Update The Asian Development Bank acknowledged civil society recommendations for its Safeguard Policies update process and highlighted some important issues for the review. Read more Update \| 29 September 2005 IFC Releases New Drafts of Environmental, Social and Disclosure Policies for Public Comment The release begins a 60-day period in which civil society may make comments before the policies receive final revisions and are sent to the Board for approval in late January. Read more Update \| 28 September 2005 World Bank begins clean energy investment framework discussions In response to recommendations arising from last July's G8 summit at Gleneagles, the World Bank and the G8 Presidency began work on an investment framework and implementation strategy for clean energy and sustainable development during the 2005 IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings. Read more Update \| 1 August 2005 ADB Safeguards Policy Review: NGOs recommend thorough and participatory process Independent assessment of Safeguard Policies implementation also recommended. Read more Update \| 1 August 2005 ADB launches Safeguard Policies “Update” Asian Development Bank announces plans to review policies on Involuntary Resettlement, Indigenous Peoples, and Environment. Read more Update \| 19 July 2005 Indonesia Constitutional Court upholds legality of Water Resources Law Water Law will decentralize control of country’s water resources and allow private sector involvement. Read more Update \| 1 July 2005 Guatemala: Sipacapa community says No to Mining! Read about the popular referendum on mining held in the town of Sipacapa, San Marcos, where ore from the Marlin Mine will be cyanide processed. Read more Update \| 14 June 2005 Civil Society Guide to IFI Policy Reviews now available Read more Update \| 6 June 2005 World Bank evaluation criticizes IFC oversight of soy project in Brazil A new Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) audit calls for environmental reclassification and better oversight of the International Finance Corporation's (IFC) project. Read more Update \| 18 May 2005 World Bank approves new Indigenous Peoples policy The World Bank Board of Directors voted to approve the Revised Draft Operational Policy on Indigenous Peoples (OP 4.10) Read more Update \| 26 April 2005 Civil Society Groups Release Scathing Report on World Bank Forest Policy In 2002 the World Bank adopted a new policy on forests, over objections from civil society and indigenous peoples’ groups. Three years later, as the Bank policy comes up for review, a broad coalition of environmental and indigenous groups have published Broken Promises, an extensive report on the forest policy’s effects on the environment and communities. Read more Update \| 22 April 2005 Friends of the Earth International Presents the IFC with “Most Flawed Consultation Award” The International Finance Corporation (IFC) Safeguard Policy Review is the winner of the 2004 'Award for the Most Flawed Consultation Process' within the World Bank Group, civil society organizations announced. Read more Update \| 6 April 2005 BIC recommends stronger transparency standards for IFC BIC submits comments on the IFC's Disclosure Policy Framework calling for strengthened disclosure principles, procedures and constraints; increased institutional transparency; and increased investment-specific transparency. 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 \| 25 February 2005 ADB approves proposed revision on its Water Policy The revision only allows stakeholders the “opportunity” to comment on large water projects, while the original policy required that all stakeholders agree on the project's justification. 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 \| 4 February 2005 EBRD extends public comment period on new Energy Policy until 30 March 2005 Several NGOs are demanding changes to the new policy, hoping to set the EBRD on a more sustainable and equitable energy development path. Read more Update \| 27 January 2005 BIC cautions WB against backtracking on policies in "Country Systems" approach Read more Update \| 24 January 2005 IFC revises timeline for public consultation of Social and Environmental Performance Standards and of the Disclosure Policy Read more Update \| 3 January 2005 World Bank releases revised draft Indigenous Peoples Policy December '04. Public comments accepted until February 28, 2005. Read more Update \| 17 December 2004 ADB responds to NGO query on status of Forest Policy Review Assures CSOs the opportunity to comment, but did not provide any timeline. Read more Update \| 14 December 2004 Indian NGOs reject World Bank’s use of Country Systems at Delhi “consultation.” Walk-out staged Twelve Indian organizations reject the World Bank's proposal to use less rigorous national laws and policies to govern its projects. Read more Update \| 6 December 2004 Revised draft World Bank Indigenous Peoples Policy released for comment through February 28, 2005 Once approved by the Board, Operational Policy 4.10 will replace the existing Operational Directive 4.20 on Indigenous Peoples. Read more Update \| 2 December 2004 New briefing presents concerns about WB proposal to rely on borrowing governments' environmental and social laws Read more Update \| 12 October 2004 Indigenous organizations of Colombia reject IDB consultation process Indigenous people present a declaration (in Spanish) to the IDB regarding the formulation of its indigenous peoples policy and strategic framework. Read more Update \| 6 October 2004 26 NGOs decide not to participate in IFC’s Washington DC consultation In response to a rapid and substandard policy consultation process, 26 NGOs declined to participate in the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) civil society meeting in Washington DC. Read more Update \| 16 September 2004 76 NGOs demand right to know about pollutants released from IFC projects A September 9 letter signed by 76 civil society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) urges the IFC to protect communities that may be exposed to pollutants due to IFC-financed projects. Read more Update \| 7 September 2004 BIC Policy Update: Review of IFC social, environmental and disclosure policies This policy update introduces the ongoing policy reviews at the IFC, outlines the review process, and provides useful links to background documents. Read more Update \| 18 August 2004 ILRC comments on IDB Indigenous Peoples Policy Profile Indian Law Resource Center submits "Ten Critical Points" on the IDB Policy Profile. Calls for fairness in consultations. Read more Update \| 9 August 2004 IFC responds to NGO sign-on letter On July 6, 140 NGOs endorsed a letter to the IFC regarding the reviews of its environmental and social policies and standards. The IFC responds ... Read more Correspondence \| 22 July 2004 Indigenous letter to WB Board in regard to Management response to EIR demands respect of indigenous rights Read more Update \| 15 July 2004 140 NGOs call on IFC for clear rights, rules and responsibilities in policy reviews In a letter sent to the IFC, civil society groups are calling for a greater focus on human rights and transparency as the IFC begins to draft its safeguard and disclosure policy approach papers this month. Read more Update \| 28 June 2004 Indigenous peoples issue declaration at International Conference for Renewable Energies, Bonn Read more Update \| 22 June 2004 World Bank faces scrutiny of indigenous leaders as final draft policy is released Update includes final draft Indigenous Peoples Policy, indigenous concerns about a hastily planned WB legal roundtable, and information about a planned briefing for the Board on Free Prior and Informed Consent Read more Update \| 10 June 2004 World Bank makes a landmark decision to weaken environmental standards New developments in the World Bank’s safeguard policies review indicates more reliance on country systems rather than Bank policy. This represents a profound shift in the development assistance framework. Read more Update \| 3 May 2004 BIC Update on the IDB Indigenous Peoples Policy, May 3, 2004 Indigenous representatives from the Americas met with President Iglesias on April 27 to discuss proposed consultations on an Indigenous Peoples Policy and Framework. Read more Update \| 13 April 2004 IFC spearheading overhaul of Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook The IFC has released the Terms of Reference for the PPAH review, laying out a rough timeline for the two-year project and identifying key areas that need to be addressed. Read more Update \| 13 April 2004 IDB and civil society groups discuss Indigenous Peoples Policy at March 2004 Annual Meetings in Lima Representatives from Amazon Alliance and other indigenous organizations presented a letter to IDB management proposing specific minimum steps necessary for a successful policy consultation. Read more Update \| 8 March 2004 Update on IDB indigenous peoples policy Indigenous Peoples Policy Profile mentions many of the key points indigenous peoples have been asking for. Read more Update \| 4 February 2004 This Web page is currently under construction Read more Update \| 2 February 2004 IFC announces Information Disclosure and Safeguard Policy reviews Read more Update \| 29 January 2004 World Bank Agrees to Indigenous Legal Roundtable Read more Update \| 23 January 2004 Inter-American Development Bank accepts demand for Indigenous Peoples Policy In February 2004 the IDB is set to begin consultations of a draft indigenous policy together with an indigenous peoples framework. This is the direct result of pressure from indigenous communities who insist on a strong instrument to protect their rights in the face of an increase in the infrastructure portfolio at the IDB. 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 See also ADB Safeguards Policy Update Environmental & Social Policies at the ADB Environmental & Social Policies at the AfDB Environmental & Social Policies at the EBRD Environmental & Social Policies at the IDB Environmental & Social Policies at the IFC Environmental & Social Policies at the MIGA Environmental & Social Policies at the World Bank IFC Policies and Standards Review Stay Informed! Sign up for our e-newsletters. SignUp

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