climate impacts of the adb’s business

The report contends that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) contributes to climate change and increases the vulnerability of communities in the Asia Pacific region. It highlights a contradiction between the ADB's stated climate goals and its continued funding of coal power plants and projects that cause deforestation. Through case studies in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, the document demonstrates how ADB-funded infrastructure and aquaculture projects have led to the destruction of mangroves and forests, increased flooding, and the displacement of local populations. The report concludes that the ADB lacks effective climate impact assessments and calls for the institution to recognize its 'climate debt' and stop supporting fossil fuel projects.

• The ADB's financing practices lack effective climate impact assessments, which the report argues puts both projects and beneficiaries at risk by ignoring geographic, hydrologic, and ecosystem factors.
• In Sri Lanka, the Southern Transport Development Project (STDP), funded by the ADB and JBIC, has caused significant flooding and waterlogging because the road acts as a dam and blocks existing drainage systems.
• ADB-funded aquaculture and plantation projects in Indonesia have contributed to the loss of mangrove forests, which are critical for carbon sequestration and protecting coastal areas from storm surges.
• The Tangguh liquid natural gas (LNG) project in West Papua, supported by the ADB, is estimated to emit 25.57 million tons of CO2 per year, yet the ADB classifies LNG as 'clean fuel'.
• In Bangladesh, ADB financing for shrimp farming in the Chokoria Sundarban led to the 'ecocide' of the area, where approximately 800 hectares of mangrove forest were cleared, leaving the land a 'saline desert'.

APA

Friends of the Earth International (2009). climate impacts of the adb’s business. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FoEAPac-climate.pdf

Chicago

Friends of the Earth International. climate impacts of the adb’s business. 2009. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FoEAPac-climate.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Friends of the Earth International |title=climate impacts of the adb’s business |date=August 2009 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FoEAPac-climate.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{friendsoftheearthinternational2009climate, author = {{Friends of the Earth International}}, title = {{climate impacts of the adb’s business}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2009}, month = aug, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FoEAPac-climate.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }