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8/17/2021

Treasury Announces Fossil Fuel Energy Guidance for Multilateral Development Banks | U.S. Department of the Treasury

Treasury Announces Fossil Fuel Energy Guidance for Multilateral
Development Banks
August 16, 2021

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued Fossil Fuel Energy
Guidance for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)

, which is key Guidance in response

to President Biden’s Executive Order 14008 on Tackling the Climate Crisis At Home and
Abroad announced earlier this year. In its Guidance, Treasury advocates for MDB investments
prioritizing clean energy, innovation, and energy e iciency, which will help achieve a clean
and sustainable future consistent with the development goals of the Paris Agreement. U.S.
Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen previewed Treasury’s MDB Guidance at the April
2021 G7 Leaders Summit on Climate and more recently discussed this with Heads of the
MDBs in July 2021.
“Today, the United States takes bold, proactive steps to address the climate crisis by working
with our international partners to establish a clear path to end Multilateral Development
Banks’ support for fossil fuels except in exceptional circumstances while helping developing
countries build a strong and sustainable future,” said Secretary Yellen.
Addressing the climate crisis is no longer business as usual and requires significant
investments in clean energy. As the largest shareholder across the MDB system, the United
States takes a leadership role with the new Treasury Guidance that advocates for MDB sta
to assess options for clean energy, innovation, and energy e iciency, and to only consider
fossil fuels if less carbon-intensive options unfeasible. The Guidance advocates for non-fossil
fuel energy projects financed by the MDBs, while maintaining some flexibility for developing
countries to support limited fossil fuel projects critical to their development objectives if
certain criteria are met.
During the July meeting with MDB Heads, Secretary Yellen requested MDBs to rapidly align
MDB portfolios with the Paris Agreement, prioritize innovation and impact to match the scale
of the climate crisis, develop ambitious capital mobilization rates consistent with broader
climate goals, develop targets for green bonds, “green” the partnerships with financial
intermediaries, double the current $40 billion pledge for private sector financing focused
https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0323

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8/17/2021

Treasury Announces Fossil Fuel Energy Guidance for Multilateral Development Banks | U.S. Department of the Treasury

upon climate adaptation, and align policy based operations with climate goals. The Treasury
Guidance will help MDBs meet these targets.
By ending its support for direct investment in coal and oil projects and encouraging cleaner
energy options, Treasury’s Guidance supports poor and vulnerable countries, conflicta ected states, and small-island developing states in meeting their development goals while
applying rigorous standards to reduce overall emissions and achieve the goals of the Paris
Agreement. The United States looks forward to working with MDB shareholders,
Management, and sta to bring clean and sustainable energy to the developing world.
For more information, please see an FAQ.
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