Climate Activists Want Biden to Fire Head of World Bank
Activists unfurled a banner at World Bank headquarters calling David Malpass a climate denier for refusing to say whether he believes anthropogenic emissions are causing global warming.
Climate activists are calling on President Biden to take steps to fire World Bank President David Malpass, who has wavered on whether he believes anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change by publicly stating, “I am not a scientist.”
Malpass made the remarks after former Vice President and prominent climate activist Al Gore called him a “climate denier” at a New York Times event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly earlier this week.
Malpass then sought to clarify his comments, telling Politico on Friday that it was a “poor choice” of words. Malpass defended the bank’s investments and said he would not resign.
Still, calls for his resignation remain.
The World Bank needs a climate change leader,” he said. The Federal Reserve needs a climate leader, and we need a climate leader in every senior position,” said Thanu Yakupitiyage, spokesman for the anti-fossil fuel climate advocacy group 350.org.
If he is not someone who can move the World Bank in a new direction and make a difference in tackling climate change, he should go,” Yakupitiyage said.
World Bank President David Malpass speaks at an event on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Malpass’s climate change controversy quickly reached White House officials who were in New York this week for the UN General Assembly. A senior administration official told reporters that “it clearly raised concerns.”
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karin Jean-Pierre criticized Malpass and the bank directly and did not say whether President Biden trusted Malpass’s leadership.
Jean-Pierre told reporters, “We disagree with President Malpass’s comments.” “We expect the World Bank to be a global leader in climate ambition and in mobilizing more climate finance for developing countries,” she said, adding that the Treasury Department “has made this clear and will continue to make it clear.”
The U.S. plays an important role in the president’s nominations. But other countries that are shareholders in the bank will have a say in the leadership change, Jean-Pierre said.
He told reporters, “To remove him, we need the support of a majority of the shareholders, and we ask you to keep that in mind.”
Former President Donald Trump shakes hands with David Malpass after being nominated to head the World Bank on February 6, 2019.
Malpass was nominated by former President Donald Trump to serve a five-year term at the bank beginning in 2019. The World Bank Board of Directors normally approves nominations from the United States, the bank’s largest shareholder.
The bank has long been criticized by climate change and environmental groups for its continued funding of fossil fuel projects around the world. They argue that there should be more of a shift to clean energy.
Malpass’s latest statement is a “stunning blunder,” says Scott Morris, co-director of sustainable development finance at the Center for Global Development – but he says there is a deeper disconnect between the bank and climate change activists.
There is “a growing frustration among climate change advocates that the institution, which is a central player, has not demonstrated the kind of climate ambition that they think is necessary,” Malpass said, explaining that he is not urging the bank to lead in that direction.
Said Morris, “When you compare him to the direction the climate change community thinks the bank should take, he’s simply not ambitious.” He clearly has not tried to push the bank in the right direction, nor has he demonstrated any particular ambition for climate beyond the basic support the bank currently provides.”
Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America’s Washington legislative office, said it is good that Malpass has finally acknowledged the flaws in his rhetoric. But actions speak more eloquently than words, she said.” Frank said that “investing in fossil fuel projects is incompatible with what is needed to combat global warming.”
Earlier this month, the World Bank touted its $31.7 billion spending in the fiscal year 2022 to help countries tackle climate change, describing itself as “the world’s largest funder of climate action in developing countries.” Projects range from expanding India’s solar power industry to biogas digester projects in sub-Saharan Africa to expanding access to affordable electricity in Nigeria.
Malpass defended the bank’s track record on climate change, saying that it is “playing a strong leading role” and using climate science to find the most impactful investments. He said he was caught off guard when asked about his beliefs on climate change.
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