Can the World Bank use the urgency of the climate crisis as an excuse to favor the same financial and corporate interests that have caused the crisis? The answer is yes, as shown in the report "Climatewash: The World Bank's Fresh Offensive On Land Rights," published this year by the Oakland Institute. The report takes an in-depth look at the World Bank's Global Program for Land Tenure Security and Land Access for Climate Goals, launched in 2024. The program's objective is to "formalize" land ownership in the Global South, supposedly in order to enable what it presents as climate actions – such as reforestation and renewable energy projects. However, the report explains in detail how the World Bank's plans do not protect, but rather threaten, land rights – all whilst promoting actions that will exacerbate the climate crisis. "The Bank’s fresh offensive on land rights highlights an untenable position for the organization. It claims to support action to address the climate crisis while it stands by its core objective, i.e. to cater to corporate and financial powers seeking more economic growth and profits," the report notes. For a deeper dive into this issue, see the full report in English here
Can the World Bank use the urgency of the climate crisis as an excuse to favor the same financial and corporate interests that have caused the crisis? The answer is yes, as shown in the report "Climatewash: The World Bank's Fresh Offensive On Land Rights," published this year by the Oakland Institute. The report takes an in-depth look at the World Bank's Global Program for Land Tenure Security and Land Access for Climate Goals, launched in 2024.