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COLLECTIVE CLIMATE AMBITION - A JOINT STATEMENT AT COP26
BY THE MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
Climate change, and the parallel crisis of environmental degradation, are critical factors affecting the
development prospects of countries, businesses, and households, and threatening to reverse years of
development progress. Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) have proven to be essential partners
in global efforts to manage the urgent transitions climate change will involve, through the financial,
technical, and knowledge support we provide, tailored to our clients’ unique domestic and
international circumstances.
To set the world on a sustainable development path requires a significant expansion and acceleration
of climate action across countries and economic sectors, taking into account the findings of the Sixth
Assessment Report (AR6) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released in August
2021.
We welcome the growing ambition reflected in the new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)
and we will continue to support the delivery of these plans in developing countries, building on our
track records of supporting low-carbon, climate-resilient, and nature-based solutions for sustainable
development. We will also contribute more broadly through our joint and individual efforts to align
our financing flows with the Paris Agreement and in our work supporting our clients to develop
ambitious Long Term Strategies (LTSs).
MDBs ARE DELIVERING
• Since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, MDBs have significantly scaled up their activity to
address the climate crisis.
• Total MDB climate finance reached US$66 billion in 2020, of which US$38 billion was for low- and
middle-income countries.
• Since 2011, total MDB support for climate action in low- and middle-income countries has
totalled over US$300 billion, and in 2019 MDBs provided 46% of public climate finance.
• MDB adaptation finance to low- and middle-income countries increased to US$13 billion in 2020
from US$5 billion in 2015, with the adaptation share rising from 20% to 35% over this period.
• Since 2015, MDBs have mobilised over US$100 billion in climate co-finance from the private
sector. Climate co-finance for low- and middle-income countries from public and private sources
reached US$36 billion in 2020.
• In 2017, MDBs committed to align their financial flows with the goals of the Paris Agreement,
and at COP24 they published their joint approach, to put that commitment into action. Since then,
MDBs have outlined a framework to assess the alignment of their investment projects with the
goals of the Paris Agreement, and as of COP26, most have announced target dates for their Paris
alignment commitments.
• MDBs are actively supporting their client countries in developing their NDCs, and integrating
climate factors in the formulation of country and sector development plans.
MDBs RAISING CLIMATE ACTION AMBITION FOR COP26 AND BEYOND
Reflecting our individual mandates, approaches and capabilities:
• MDBs are increasing climate finance, including the amount of finance available to support
adaptation initiatives
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• MDBs will aim to increase the level of private capital mobilised in support of mitigation and
adaptation investments, using platforms, investment vehicles, and blended finance instruments,
that are fit for purpose.
• MDBs will promote natural capital, biodiversity, and nature-based solutions, as well as gendersmart
solutions, which support client climate and environmental goals.
• MDBs will support Just Transitions in communities, regions, and sectors directly impacted by the
low-carbon energy, transport and industrial transitions.
• In addition, MDBs are working to develop dedicated approaches to assess the Paris Alignment of
policy-based lending, real sector operations and lending through financial intermediaries, and
will soon begin to test these parts of the MDBs Paris alignment frameworks.
• MDBs are also working and collaborating to enhance support to countries for the formulation of
robust and ambitious NDCs, LTSs, and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in line with the Paris
Agreement goals. This includes enhancing synergies between these instruments and ensuring they
are mainstreamed into national development plans. MDBs are working together to increase the
level of funding and coordination of their support at national, sub-national and sector level to
facilitate the development and implementation of LTSs, including by exploring the potential
establishment of a joint MDB LTS Facility.
• MDBs are working with clients to develop plans to integrate the transition to a net-zero emissions
and climate-resilient economy with development programs in key sectors such as energy, cities,
food and land use, water, and industry.
• MDBs are prioritising the development of cost-effective and equitable approaches to
decommissioning coal and other high-GHG emission systems, taking into account socioeconomic
trade-offs.
• MDBs are working to accelerate climate finance for cities, reflecting their key role in developing
and implementing climate action at the local level.
• MDBs are supporting their client countries to design, pilot and implement carbon pricing
instruments, including carbon taxes and fossil fuel subsidy reduction.
COORDINATION
The effective implementation of MDB climate action and Paris alignment relies first and foremost on
the quality and depth of engagement with countries of operations and clients. The necessary
acceleration in MDB climate action to address the climate and environmental emergencies, also
depend on broad shareholder and donor support, in terms of strategy and resources. In implementing
their climate strategies, MDBs will pursue an active coordination and partnership approach with
organisations and coalitions, working to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.
African Development Bank European Investment Bank
Asian Development Bank Inter American Development Bank Group
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Islamic Development Bank
Council of Europe Development Bank New Development Bank
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development World Bank Group