The Asian Development Bank issued its draft energy policy on Friday following the conclusion of its 54th Annual Meeting and clarion calls from the United Nations to end financing for all fossil fuels including gas. This first draft has ruled out financing for coal but allows for continued gas finance which dominates the ADB’s fossil fuel lending.
ADB
Sowing the Seeds of Climate Chaos: The Asian Development Bank’s Support for Gas
This new analysis finds the ADB has spent over $4.7 billion on gas since the adoption of the Paris Agreement. Plans to expand gas infrastructure in Asia pose one of the greatest threats to meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and averting the most catastrophic impacts of the climate crisis.
New analysis shows ADB has spent $4.7 billion financing gas
A new analysis shows the Asian Development Bank has spent $4.7 billion financing gas projects in the region. This undermines its stated commitments on climate and efforts to achieve a “prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific.”
Fossil Free ADB: A new campaign targeting the Asian Development Bank
Today, we’ve joined with civil society groups and peoples’ movements from around the world to launch an exciting new campaign: Fossil Free ADB. The goal of the campaign is to pressure the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to stop financing fossil fuels.
Finance in Common Summits misses opportunity to end fossil fuel finance, but there is a way forward, say CSOs
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.
Momentum Grows to Stop Coal Finance, but Further Action is Critical
Two important actions were added to the growing list of recent global steps curbing public finance for coal. First, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) joined the World Bank and European Investment Bank (EIB) in adopting a new Energy Strategy that significantly restricts support for coal power projects. As the second climate feat of the week, the U.S. government voted no on the Board of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for a proposed coal power plant in Pakistan. However, even though the U.S. and several other countries voted no or abstained from supporting the Pakistan coal plant, the ADB board still had a simple majority, and therefore approved $900 million in funding for the 600 MW Jamshoro coal plant.