Toward Paris Alignment: How the Multilateral Development Banks Can Better Support the Paris Agreement

The report advocates for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to move from a "Climate Finance Paradigm" to a "Paris Alignment Paradigm," ensuring all investments—not just designated climate finance—align with the Paris Agreement. Key recommendations include achieving net zero CO2 emissions by mid-century by stopping support for CO2-emitting energy sources, mainstreaming climate risks for a world 3-4°C warmer, and increasing transparency and support for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

• The World Resources Institute argues that Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) must transition from a "Climate Finance Paradigm," which focuses on maximizing the volume of climate finance, to a "Paris Alignment Paradigm." This new approach requires MDBs to ensure their entire pipelines and portfolios, not just specific climate finance projects, are consistent with the Paris Agreement's requirements and global climate goals.
• To support climate mitigation, MDBs should adopt a goal of net zero CO2 emissions by mid-century, which necessitates a rapid cessation of support for energy sources that produce CO2 emissions within the next few years.
• Regarding climate adaptation, MDBs are encouraged to move from high-level screening and isolated initiatives toward the thorough mainstreaming of climate risks, including planning for scenarios where the world is 3-4°C warmer.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Toward Paris Alignment: How the Multilateral Development Banks Can Better Support the Paris Agreement. https://www.wri.org/research/toward-paris-alignment

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Toward Paris Alignment: How the Multilateral Development Banks Can Better Support the Paris Agreement. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/toward-paris-alignment.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Toward Paris Alignment: How the Multilateral Development Banks Can Better Support the Paris Agreement |url=https://www.wri.org/research/toward-paris-alignment |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendtoward, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Toward Paris Alignment: How the Multilateral Development Banks Can Better Support the Paris Agreement}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/toward-paris-alignment}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }