Climate and Debt Justice Activists Put World Bank On Notice During Annual Spring Meetings
As New World Bank President Ajay Banga Nears End of First Year, Activists Wonder What He Has To Show For It on Climate and Debt Justice
Week of Events to Include Protests, Marches, and Transformation of Washington Monument into Massive Wind Turbine, and Calls for Historic Contributions to Fully and robustly funded IDA
Washington, DC—During the week of April 15-19, during the annual spring meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Foundation, activists with the Glasgow Actions Team, coordinating with civil society groups from across the globe, will be calling on the World Bank Group and its shareholders to stop funding fossil fuels, break the cycle of debt distress, and massively increase funding for clean energy and justice.
The meetings will be run by World Bank President Ajay Banga, who is nearing the end of his first year in office without much to show for it on climate and debt justice. This is despite being selected for his climate credentials and making several strong statements about the need to reform the Bank on climate.
“It seems like climate change-supercharged extreme heat and weather records are being set on a weekly basis, yet Banga’s World Bank continues funding fossil fuels, as if lives aren’t being lost right now — this is unacceptable,” said Andrew Nazdin, director of the Glasgow Actions Team. “President Banga has made many promises about getting the World Bank to be better on climate and uphold its commitments to the Paris Accords. It’s time for him to deliver on those promises.”
This year’s spring meetings will be an important opportunity for the Bank to commit massive new funding through the International Development Association, which is due for a replenishment, and which Banga said is the “single most important thing in the World Bank,” he said, because it is the only source of funding for many countries. He also said he hoped to make the next IDA replenishment “the largest of all time.”
“We’ll see if he puts his money where his mouth is,” said Nazdin. “Thousands of concerned citizens from around the world will be watching. We’re looking to him to end all fossil fuel financing at the Bank and unlock the financing needed to spark a just energy transition across the world and especially the Global South.”
Protest Schedule
Monday, April 15, 8:00 am: Washington Monument Transforms into Massive Wind Turbine. Activists will raise a breathtaking “invisible banner” in front of the Washington Monument that will appear to transform it into a wind turbine, surrounded by the words ‘End Fossil Finance’ and ‘Drop the Debt,’ symbolizing the actions the World Bank must take to avert climate catastrophe.
Tuesday, April 16, 8:45 am at World Bank: “Gas Kills” Protest. In coordination with the Big Shift Global, activists will transform the World Bank entrance into a danger zone with signage and banners calling out the World Bank’s continued funding for gas projects around the world.
Wednesday, April 17, 8:30 AM: G7 Protest Outside IDA Forum. Protesters will greet world leaders as they enter the World Bank for the International Development Association (IDA) Forum meeting. Banga has called the IDA the “single most important thing in the World Bank,” because it is the only source of funding for many countries. Activists will be calling on G7 leaders to massively replenish this funding for clean energy and climate justice in developing countries.
Thursday, April 18, 12:00 PM Noon: Retirement Party for Axel van Trotsenburg. Outside the World Bank entrance, activists will protest Axel van Trotsenburg’s long tenure and urge him to retire with a retirement party-themed protest.
Friday, April 19, 10:00 AM: Debt for Climate Zambia activists call on World Bank to Drop the Debt. Hundreds will take part in a march to the World Bank Group building to deliver a letter calling for debt relief. March route available upon request.
Friday, April 19, 12:00 PM Noon at Murrow Park: Day of Action. A massive march and rally will cap out the week of events, featuring a Star Wars-themed protest alongside dozens of groups from around the world.
Additionally, throughout the week, activists will put up hundreds of posters in high traffic pedestrian areas calling on the Bank to end fossil finance and relieve debt distress. They will also be delivering decks of "Polycrisis Power Players" cards featuring the 52 people most responsible for the multitude of crises facing humanity today. Featuring Ajay Banga, Vladimir Putin, and more, these will be delivered to attendees of key meetings throughout the week.
Spokespeople from a variety of social/global movements spanning the issues of climate, development, and international debt will be available for interviews.
PHOTOS WILL BE SENT OUT AFTER EACH EVENT. Preview past actions from Glasgow Actions Team here.
Contact:
Denise Robbins, denise@glasgowactions.com, 608-320-6582
Abbie Veitch, abbie@glasgowactions.com, 631-708-8541
About the Glasgow Actions Team:
Formed before the UN Climate Conference in 2021, the Glasgow Actions Team is committed to pushing the world's climate champions to go farther, calling out the blockers, and exposing the deniers. Throughout the 2024 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group they'll be running extremely mediagenic actions calling on the World Bank to get in line with the Paris Climate Goals — to stop funding fossil fuels, invest in renewables, relieve debt, and become a more transparent and democratic institution.
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