Responding to the World Bank Paris Alignment instrument methodologies and sector notes

A statement by a coalition of civil society organisations, including Trend Asia, criticising the World Bank's Paris Alignment (WB PA) methodology and sector notes. The coalition argues that the framework fails to align with the 1.5°C climate goal, allows for continued fossil fuel investment, and lacks transparency and civil society consultation.

• The coalition asserts that the World Bank Paris Alignment (WB PA) methodology is based on a flawed foundation that ignores current climate science, specifically the IPCC requirement for global greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 and decrease by 43% by 2030 to maintain the 1.5°C target.
• The WB PA is criticised for including fossil gas as a transition fuel and accepting unproven technologies—such as carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS), synthetic fuels, and ammonia blending—which the coalition claims will prolong dependency on fossil fuels.
• The coalition argues that the WB PA sets an excessively low threshold for Paris alignment, allowing projects with 'significant GHG emissions' to be approved based on 'expert judgement' rather than transparent, science-based criteria.
• The Energy and Extractives Sector Note is described as unfit for purpose because it classifies high-emitting projects, including fossil gas, as Paris aligned and fails to provide a clear taxonomy for promoting renewable energy or energy efficiency.
• The methodology for Development Policy Financing is criticised for allowing prior actions to be considered Paris aligned even if they result in large increases in greenhouse gas emissions, provided they are deemed to align with long-term decarbonisation pathways via expert judgement.
• The coalition highlights a lack of transparency and meaningful consultation, noting that instrument methodologies were published and staff were trained before public consultation occurred, and that there is no process for civil society to comment on the PA analysis of individual projects.

APA

Trend Asia (n.d.). Responding to the World Bank Paris Alignment instrument methodologies and sector notes. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Responding-to-the-World-Bank-Paris-Alignment-instrument-methodologies-and-sector-notes-final.pdf

Chicago

Trend Asia. Responding to the World Bank Paris Alignment instrument methodologies and sector notes. n.d. https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Responding-to-the-World-Bank-Paris-Alignment-instrument-methodologies-and-sector-notes-final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Trend Asia |title=Responding to the World Bank Paris Alignment instrument methodologies and sector notes |url=https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Responding-to-the-World-Bank-Paris-Alignment-instrument-methodologies-and-sector-notes-final.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{trendasiandresponding, author = {{Trend Asia}}, title = {{Responding to the World Bank Paris Alignment instrument methodologies and sector notes}}, publisher = {Trend Asia}, url = {https://trendasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Responding-to-the-World-Bank-Paris-Alignment-instrument-methodologies-and-sector-notes-final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }