Today development banks signed a joint declaration at the first global summit of development banks, Finance in Common. Before the summit, the UN Secretary General, youth climate activists, and over 300 civil society organisations all urged development banks to act to end fossil fuel investments. However, the joint declaration only includes a vague commitment to “consider” ways to reduce fossil fuel investments.

Despite repeated pledges to end inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, G20 governments’ support to fossil fuels has dropped by only 9% since 2014–2016, hitting USD 584 billion annually over the last three years, according to a report released today by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), and Oil Change International (OCI).

European Development Finance Institutions fall short on climate ambition by allowing continued financing for fossil gasToday, one week ahead of the Finance in Common Summit, the Association of European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI) announced joint ambitions for climate action. The institutions commit to full Paris alignment by 2022 and to end coal and fuel oil financing. For gas finance, they commit to “generally exclude [such finance] by 2030 at the latest”, but leave the room open to gas financing beyond 2030 in certain cases. 

"If banks won’t stop funding climate devastation, our government must force their hand, and Senator Merkley's bills would force the action we need," said David Turnbull of Oil Change International.

“This report shows that the UK has a clear opportunity to show climate leadership and stop propping up deadly fossil fuels with public money.