Email the World Bank

Tell the World Bank to make the Big Shift

In its response to the Covid-19 epidemic, the World Bank must consider the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable communities both now and in the future. People lacking access to modern energy are amongst the most vulnerable to Covid-19, whilst climate change remains an existential threat to people all over the world and continues to have negative impacts. It is vital that, in addition to immediate unconditional support to people and health services, the Bank's response to Covid-19 includes actions to tackle climate change and improve energy access in the long term.

The World Bank's response now will have impacts on people's lives for many years to come. Any recovery package must not include investment in fossil fuels that contribute to climate change and instead invest in sustainable renewable energy accessible by all.

Join us in calling on the World Bank to commit to financing a sustainable, low-carbon future that reduces vulnerability to climate change and provides clean energy for the world's most vulnerable people.

Take action

Email your national Executive Director at the World Bank and ask them to phase out all support for fossil fuels and scaling up support for clean energy access across their lending.

We have provided editable suggested text for your email below.

The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to have devastating impacts on people across the globe, and the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people are the least able to cope with the crisis. The choices made now by the World Bank will have impacts on peoples’ lives for many years to come. In its response to this crisis, the World Bank must implement a people-centred, unconditional approach which meets the immediate needs of the world’s most vulnerable people, as well as implementing measures to ensure resilience to future crises and a more sustainable and just future for all.

People lacking access to modern energy are amongst the most vulnerable to COVID-19 as hospitals and health centres lack electricity, and using charcoal, wood or coal for heating and cooking can exacerbate respiratory illnesses and conditions. Meanwhile, climate change remains an existential threat to people all over the world and continues to have negative impacts. It is vital that, in addition to immediate unconditional support to people and health services, the response to COVID-19 includes actions to tackle climate change and improve energy access in the long term.

Any recovery finance must stop the investment in fossil fuels that contribute to climate change and must include investment in sustainable renewable energy accessible by all. I call on the World Bank to make the following commitments and apply them transparently across its lending, including economic stimulus packages in response to the COVID-19 crisis:

-End direct and indirect finance for all fossil fuels, including through budget support, ‘associated facilities,’ and financial intermediaries. Fossil fuel support via financial intermediaries can be ended by expanding the Green Equity Approach beyond coal to include oil and gas.

-Rapidly scale up investment in energy access and a just transition. The World Bank should align all its lending and operations with high-probability pathways to 1.5°C and universal energy access. It should commit to delivering at least 75 million off-grid connections by 2025. At the project level, investment in renewable energy must ensure the free, prior, and informed consent of impacted communities.

-Work with its peers to announce a joint MDB framework on alignment with 1.5°C by the end of 2020 with no further delay, and a high ambition coalition at the Finance in Common summit for ending fossil fuel finance from all public finance institutions.

Climate change and lack of access to renewable energy have significantly increased people’s vulnerability to crises including the negative impacts of COVID-19. The response to COVID-19 must ensure that it does not make people even more vulnerable in future, but instead increases resilience.

Yours sincerely,

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