World Bank Annual Meetings 2024: Centering on People and Accountability in the Climate Crisis – Center for International Environmental Law

World Bank Annual Meetings 2024: Centering on People and Accountability in the Climate Crisis

Published October 14, 2024

By Aubrey Manahan, Campaigner for the People, Land & Resources Program at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).

As the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepare to convene their 2024 Annual Meetings from October 21-26 in Washington, DC, the pressure continues to ensure the World Bank’s role in climate finance considers those most impacted by the global crisis. This year numerous sessions will focus on how financial institutions are responding to the climate crisis, and how the Bank can support the global energy transition in a just and transparent manner. 

While these meetings typically address major financial events and trends impacting the institution, its borrower countries, private sector clients, and partner investors, of particular interest this year is how to ensure that the transition away from fossil fuels is not only swift but equitable, taking into account the needs of vulnerable communities. 

This annual event is a combination of official closed-door meetings among World Bank and IMF leadership, public seminars on global economic development, and high-level events featuring prominent officials. The Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) held during the meetings is one of the most critical opportunities to influence the institutions, as it allows civil society organizations (CSOs) and communities affected by development projects to engage directly with bank staff and officials.

Here’s what we’ll be advocating for throughout the week:

Moving Toward Effective Actions and Agreements for Communities Harmed by Development Projects

A key issue in development is ensuring that communities affected by bank-financed projects receive remedies when they are harmed. At the World Bank, Management Action Plans (MAPs) and Dispute Resolution agreements resulting from accountability processes are some of the most critical methods of addressing harm caused by WBG-financed projects. 

Yet, poorly crafted MAPs, failure to include communities in their design and insufficient engagement by DFI management can lead to unsuccessful plans. Similarly, the agreements coming out of Dispute Resolution processes may be imperfect and unviable if DFIs are not involved. Ultimately communities may be left with no effective remedial actions or agreements to address harms. 

During the CSPF, CIEL and partners will convene a panel of community leaders, and Bank staff to discuss MAPs and agreements in practice, challenges with creation and implementation and some successes along the way. 

Moderated by CIEL’s Director of the People Land and Resources program, Carla García Zendejas, the event will feature:

• Feliciano Santos, Indigenous Leader, Movement for the Defence of the Territories and Ecosystems of Bocas del Toro, Panama
• Mario Paniagua Ortega, Fundación Tierra, Bolivia
• Raquel Gomez Fernandez, Compliance Specialist, Compliance Advisor Ombudsman
• Emmanuel Boulet, Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Grievance Response, IFC

Join us for this conversation on Wednesday, October 23 from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m. ET at the World Bank Group “I” Building: I 2-220 (livestream will be made available https://bit.ly/CIEL-cspf-2024). 

Defending the Defenders: Ensuring Environmental and Human Rights Defenders can Work Free of Reprisals

The Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, known as the Escazú Agreement is the first binding regional agreement aimed at ensuring environmental democracy and the protection of environmental and human rights defenders. 

Development banks have a responsibility to respect human rights and avoid contributing to harm through their financial investments. Globally, environmental and human rights defenders often face threats, reprisals and violence when speaking out about bank-financed projects. This session brings together frontline leaders, government officials, and Bank staff to examine how the World Bank’s approach to addressing reprisals has evolved and how it can leverage the Escazu agreement to protect defenders worldwide.

Moderated by CIEL Senior Attorney, Luisa Gómez Betancur, this panel will feature:

• Marcela Mella, No Alto Maipo campaign leader and member of Red de Comunidades Impactadas por IFIs (Network of Communities Impacted by IFIs)
• Bastián Pastén Delich, Senior Counsel, World Bank
• Constance Nalegach, Head of Office of International Affairs, Office of International Affairs of the Ministry of the Environment of Chile and Working Group of Defenders of the Escazú Agreement
•  Maninder Gill, Director of Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS), World Bank TBC

Join us for this conversation on Friday, October 25 at 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET at the World Bank Group “I” Building: I 2-220 (livestream will be made available https://bit.ly/CIEL-cspf-2024). 

Avoiding Climate Change Harms by Improving Sustainability Policies 

IFC must take significant measures to align its financial flows with the goal of keeping global temperature rise below 1.5°C. In this session, experts share how IFC’s climate policies addressing greenhouse gas emissions must evolve so both IFC and its member countries can meet their due diligence and harm prevention obligations under international law. Panelists will propose changes and improvements to IFC’s Sustainability Framework ahead of the upcoming review.

Moderated by Recourse’s Programme Director, Ecological Justice, Fran Witt, this panel will feature:

• Jason Weiner, Executive Director & Legal Director, Bank Climate Advocates
• Dean Bhekumuzi Bhebne, Campaigns Lead, Powershift Africa
• Igor Gryshko, PhD, Human Rights Officer, Environment and Climate Change Team, United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (UN OHCHR)
• Irum Ashan, Head Advisory, Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO)

Join us for this conversation on Tuesday, October 22 at 2:15-4:00 p.m. ET at the World Bank Group “I” Building: I 2-220 (livestream will be made available https://bit.ly/CIEL-cspf-2024). 

A Key Opportunity to Envision Climate Policies and Solutions that Prevent Harm

As the World Bank and IMF 2024 Annual Meetings unfold, the global spotlight will be on how these institutions navigate the complex terrain of climate change, energy transition, and development financing. The events and discussions around accountability, protection of human rights defenders, and the role of financial institutions in the energy transition will provide crucial insights into the future direction of international development.

The panels hosted by CIEL and its partners highlight the growing demand for financial institutions to prioritize justice and human rights. With the world watching, the outcomes of these discussions could have far-reaching impacts on global climate policy and development practices.

By addressing key issues like the implementation of remedial action, protecting defenders, and aligning financial flows with climate goals, the World Bank can play a leading role in ensuring a truly just, fair, and equitable energy transition.