After a four year review process of the Environmental and Social Safeguards Policies of the World Bank, the World Bank Board approved the third, and probably final, draft of the new Environmental and Social Framework of the Bank. Last July 19, more than 50 organizations from 20 countries from the Global South sent a letter to the Executive Directors of the World Bank representing their countries, through which they respond to the three main arguments that the directors have provided to justify the weakening of existing standards. To access the release on the website of the Coalition´s member, Fundar, access here.
In particular, the letter rejects the claims that various governments have made arguing that these safeguard policies are too costly and time-consuming to be implemented; are inefficient when national systems could be implemented more quickly and easily; and undermine national authority and sovereignty by imposing tough conditions for loans from the Bank. To access the statement on the website of the Coalition´s member, FUNDEPS, access here.
The letter sent to the Bank is available in English and Spanish.
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