Sawt Falasteen - World Bank boosts climate financing by 10 percent

The development lender has looked to boost its climate financing commitment under new president Ajay Banga, who took over last year on a pledge to reform the 80-year-old Washington-based institution.

In December, the Bank committed to raising the proportion of its total financing that goes to climate change adaptation from 35 percent to 45 percent starting in the fiscal 2025 year, which began in July.

But it came close to that objective this fiscal year, announcing in a statement on Wednesday that around 44 percent of the World Bank Group's total financing of $97 billion had a climate financing component.

This figure included lending, along with other financial instruments such as grants and guarantees, a World Bank official told AFP by email.

That financing assisted in "supporting efforts to end poverty on a livable planet, investing in cleaner energy, more resilient communities, and stronger economies," the Bank said, adding that each of its institutions contributed this goal.

"But there is more to do," it added.

L.AbuTayeh--SF-PST