Investing in Sustainable Energy Futures

This report by the World Resources Institute reviews loans provided by Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to developing countries for electricity policy between 2006 and 2008. It evaluates how these investments align with a framework for sustainable, low-carbon energy development, focusing on policy, regulation, and institutional capacity.

• A review of MDB loans to developing countries for electricity policy from 2006–2008 indicates that only a small number of projects addressed many of the elements of the report's proposed sustainable energy framework.
• The report argues that current energy policies and regulations typically prioritize short-term supply and cost over the long-term benefits of clean technologies, such as environmental performance, cost savings, and energy security.
• The report recommends that MDBs more consistently address institutional capacity, regulatory policy, and integrated electricity planning to align investments with social and environmental sustainability, specifically noting the need to manage the cumulative effects of hydropower and transmission infrastructure.
• The report proposes a framework for enabling sustainable energy investment based on two pillars: Policies & Regulations (including long-term planning, energy efficiency, renewable energy promotion, and subsidy reform) and Institutional Capacity & Governance (including the capacity of executive agencies, regulatory agencies, and utilities, as well as transparency and stakeholder engagement).

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Investing in Sustainable Energy Futures. https://www.wri.org/research/investing-sustainable-energy-futures

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Investing in Sustainable Energy Futures. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/investing-sustainable-energy-futures.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Investing in Sustainable Energy Futures |url=https://www.wri.org/research/investing-sustainable-energy-futures |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendinvesting, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Investing in Sustainable Energy Futures}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/investing-sustainable-energy-futures}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }