US Congress against weaker safeguards of World Bank
After months of lobbying of a group of NGOs, including Both ENDS, the United States Congress has opposed weakening of the investment criteria, the so-called ‘safeguards’ of the World Bank. The Congress sent a letter to the US Treasury, stating that the Banks’ social and environmental criteria for investments should not be weakened and the Treasury should oppose this. This is a great success for civil society organisations from around the world - including Both ENDS – which have been working for years to maintain and even improve the current investment criteria of the World Bank.
Weak criteria
“Currently, the World Bank is reviewing its safeguards”, says Pieter Jansen of Both ENDS. Civil society organisations are afraid that the current rules will be weakened. “This would have enormous consequences for millions of people in developing countries, as the extent to which the Bank takes into account the effects of its investments on people and their environment, would decrease. Take, for example, the construction of a large hydrodam that floods the surrounding villages, or a large agricultural project that pollutes land and water and forces people to move elsewhere. Fortunately, the US Congress has prevented this further weakening of standards. The US is the largest shareholder of the World Bank and has a lot of influence. The letter from the Congress cannot be ignored.”
Persisting and persuading
Pieter himself has been closely involved in the processes that finally lead to this result. Together with the ULU Foundation (Hawaii), Center for International Environment Law (USA), Inclusive Development International (USA), Friends of the Earth (USA), Urgewald (Germany) and Ecological Justice (Indonesia) he has been urging Members of Congress write the letter. “It took quite a lot of persuasive power; we have lobbied and talked with Members of Congress and their colleagues for months.”
Not giving in
“The lobbying NGOs produced another achievement: Congress also passed the ‘2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act’. This act withholds the US from giving financial support to investments of financial institutions that cause large-scale deforestation, disrupting mining activities in tropical forests and the construction of large, destructive dams for hydroelectric energy. Both the letter and the passed act are very good news, especially after the disappointing consultations we had with the World Bank. The Bank did not want to give in at all to civil society organisations opposing the weakening of its safeguards. But now the Bank will have to listen.”
Disclosure
The ‘2015 Omnibus Appropriations Act’ also states that the International Finance Corporation (a division of the World Bank) and other international financial institutions should be more transparent. Currently, the names of the owners of companies that are being supported by governments - with public money - are often not disclosed. Under this new law, these names have to be made public. In addition, the law will enable the US to bar individuals and their families from entering the country if the State Department has information about their involvement in corruption, human rights violations or unethical mining activities.
Do no harm
Pieter Jansen: “In Europe, we share the Congress’ concern that the World Bank will dilute the rules to such an extent, that human rights, the fundamental rights of the EU and various environment and biodiversity agreements which the EU has signed, will all be under great pressure. That is why we are very happy that Congress has taken these steps. With this, the World Bank can move back in the direction of its most important principle: do no harm.”
Read more about this subject
-
Instalink / 3 November 2024
-
News / 1 November 2024
Both ENDS at COP29: advocating for gender just climate finance
On November 11th, the 29th UN Climate Conference will start in Baku, Azerbaijan. Just like previous years, Both ENDS will be there to advocate for local access to climate finance, and to support our partner organisations in their advocacy work. How do we do that, and what are our hopes (and worries) about this 29th edition of the UNFCCC COP? We asked Marius Troost, who will be joining COP29 together with Daan Robben.
-
Instalink / 31 October 2024
-
Publication / 29 October 2024
-
Instalink / 29 October 2024
-
Instalink / 24 October 2024
-
Publication / 21 October 2024
-
News / 21 October 2024
Disappointment over failure to submit National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
We are deeply disappointed and frustrated that the Dutch government has not submitted its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) for the CBD COP16 in Cali. This disregard for international agreements undermines the concerted global effort to address the urgent biodiversity crisis.
-
Instalink / 18 October 2024
-
Instalink / 18 October 2024
-
Instalink / 17 October 2024
-
Instalink / 10 October 2024
-
News / 3 October 2024
CVM trial of Vale Executives over Brumadinho Dam Collapse brings new momentum
Fabio Schvartsman and Gerd Peter Poppinga attended a Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) trial session, last Tuesday, October 1st. Poppinga was convicted by one of the CMV directors, but the second CMV director requested more time to review the case files, postponing the judgment by 60 days. Victims’ families and supporters will have to keep waiting for justice regarding one of Brazil’s worst human and environmental disasters.
-
Instalink / 3 October 2024
-
Blog / 30 September 2024
Of EACOP and tales of a defender in development
The Joke Waller-Hunter (JWH) Initiative creates opportunities for young people in the environmental sector in developing countries to unfold their full potential. By providing small grants to individuals to expand their knowledge, experience and training, the Initiative aims to strengthen environmental Civil Society Organisations capacity and efficiency. Grantee Brighton Aryampa wrote a column for Monitor about his journey to becoming a Human Rights Defender, and his work battling the EACOP.
-
Publication / 24 September 2024
-
News / 24 September 2024
Massive Wildfires Ravage South America
“The fires have reached proportions we have never experienced before.”
Large swathes of South America are currently draped in smoke. From Buenos Aires, to São Paulo to Asunción people struggle to breathe due to unprecedented fires raging on the continent, fuelled by extreme drought, the expansion of the agriculture frontier and rising temperatures linked to climate change.
-
Blog / 29 August 2024
Local action for resilient wetlands and riparian lands of the Athi river basin in Kenya
and Kyra Pohlan
Communities throughout the Athi river basin rely on healthy and resilient semi-aquatic ecosystems, such as riparian and wetland areas, for their well-being and livelihoods. These habitats have become ever more important for local communities in adapting to the effects of climate change, in particular the more frequent and more extreme periods of drought and flooding. By conserving and re-establishing riparian lands and wetlands, groups from the Athi River Community Network do not only protect their immediate environment but also contribute to the well-being of downstream areas.
-
News / 16 August 2024
Statement on the denial of legal protection by the Philippines Court of Appeals towards environmental defenders Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano
Both ENDS expresses its profound concern over the recent decision by the Philippines Court of Appeals to deny legal protection to Jonila Castro and Jhed Tamano against unlawful harassment and reprisals from state forces. Castro and Jhed are two young environmental human rights defenders who were violently abducted by Filipino armed forces in September 2023, for almost 17 days, in a case that made international headlines. The two women had been working as community organizers in Northern Manila Bay, where large-scale land reclamation's have wreaked havoc on communities and ecosystems.
-
Letter / 22 July 2024
Joint Call to Action: International Civil Society Demands Justice for Berta Cáceres' Murder Victims in Honduras
This is a joint call to action by international civil society organizations to call upon the Honduran authorities to ensure there is justice for the victims of the murder on Berta Caceres. Eight years and four months have passed since the crime against Berta and the Honduran justice system has not confirmed the sentences of those convicted and has not prosecuted the intellectual authors. We are extremely concerned that independent administration of justice and international agreements on human rights are not being upheld.