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Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity
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Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity
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July 30, 2009Climate Disagreement Makes Headlines during Clinton’s Asia Trip—But the Good News Should Be Part of the Story, TooPosted by Nancy Birdsall in Climate Change, Global Development Tags: Clean Technology Fund, Climate ChangeThis posting is joint with Jan Von Der Goltz
Comment »July 27, 2009Development is Key to Climate Change Resilience, Wheeler says in Congressional TestimonyPosted by Kaci Farrell in Climate Change, Global Development Tags: Clean Technology Fund, Climate Change, On the Hill, World Bank Congress should focus U.S. foreign assistance on human and economic development to buttress vulnerable societies against the inevitable impacts of climate change, CGD senior fellow David Wheeler told members of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment at a congressional hearing last week. 2 Comments »April 30, 2009A Transformational North Africa/Middle East Solar Power Program: Bright Prospect for the Clean Technology FundPosted by David Wheeler in Climate Change Tags: Clean Technology FundThis is a joint post with Joel Meister and Matt Hoffman.
4 Comments »March 20, 2009Why Marc Jacobsons Research Matters for the Clean Technology FundPosted by Matt Hoffman in Climate Change Tags: CARMA, Clean Technology Fund, Marc JacobsonThis post originally appeared on CARMA.org. The airwaves have recently been filled with advertisements heralding a plethora of clean energy technologies. GE promoted its smart grid technologies in a Wizard of Oz-themed Super Bowl ad. Vestas, the largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world, has branded itself No. 1 in Modern Energy. Various groups have designed commercials touting the potential of “clean coal,” including a GE ad featuring models-turned-miners (tagline: “Harnessing the power of coal is looking more beautiful every day.”). And environmental groups have struck back against the branding of coal as “clean” with satirical advertisements (tagline: “Clean coal harnesses the awesome power of the word ‘clean!’”. In this maelstrom of marketing, who can say which clean energy technology is best? Comment »March 2, 2009Clean Technology for Developing Countries — Bright Road AheadPosted by David Wheeler in Climate Change, Environment Tags: Clean Technology Fund
3 Comments »February 25, 2009End of the Road for the World Bank’s Clean Technology Fund?Posted by David Wheeler in Capitol Flows/Financial Crisis, Climate Change, Environment, Financial Crisis, Global Warming, Migration and Labor Mobility, The Future of the World Bank Tags: Clean Technology Fund
3 Comments »February 25, 2009U.S. Congress Cuts Funds for World Bank’s So-Called Clean Technology FundPosted by Joel Meister in Climate Change, Environment, Global Warming, Migration and Labor Mobility, The Future of the World Bank, World Bank, World Bank Clean Technology Fund Tags: Clean Technology Fund, On the Hill, World BankThe U.S. Congress today passed its omnibus appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2009, H.R. 1105. Missing in action: the U.S. contribution to the World Bank’s so-called Clean Technology Fund (CTF), which has repeatedly come under fire from CGD’s David Wheeler and others for including coal-fired power plants among those potentially eligible for CTF support. 1 Comment »January 29, 2009Upcoming World Bank Vote Threatens Future of Clean Tech FundPosted by David Wheeler in Climate Change, Environment Tags: Clean Technology FundThis is a joint posting with Joel Meister. Even as President Obama breaks new ground this week on U.S. environmental policy, an upcoming vote by country members of the World Bank’s Clean Technology Fund Trust Fund Committee may perpetuate business-as-usual policies that subsidize coal-fired power plants and contribute to global warming. On Friday morning, the committee is scheduled to consider and approve investment criteria that include coal-fired power projects among “clean” technologies that are eligible for billions in MDB financing. 1 Comment »November 6, 2008Smart Obamanomics for the President-Elect’s Top Priority: Energy and Climate ChangePosted by David Wheeler in Climate Change, Environment, Global Warming, Migration and Labor Mobility Tags: Clean Technology FundThis is a joint post with Kevin Ummel, Robin Kraft, Joel Meister and Dan Hammer
6 Comments »October 23, 2008Behind-the-Scenes Debate on Clean Tech Fund Reveals Deep Divisions, Shifting AttitudesPosted by Joel Meister in Climate Change, Environment, Global Warming, Migration and Labor Mobility Tags: Clean Technology FundAs the World Bank moves closer to launching the Clean Technology Fund (CTF), serious questions remain over how the money will be spent. The political headwinds in Washington have shifted since June, when the Congress began to consider contributing to the fund. While the result is still uncertain, it appears increasingly likely that the CTF will ultimately focus on truly clean technology while generally avoiding investments in coal and other high-carbon fossil fuels. Comment »June 23, 2008Congress Demands World Bank Reform as Condition for Clean Tech Fund AuthorizationPosted by Joel Meister in CGD Initiatives, Climate Change, Environment, G8, Global Warming, Migration and Labor Mobility, World Bank, World Bank Clean Technology Fund Tags: Clean Technology Fund, G8, On the Hill, World BankThe House Financial Services Committee will consider new legislation this week that would contribute $400 million in FY2009 to a multilateral Clean Technology Fund (CTF), administered by the World Bank, to promote low-carbon energy production in developing countries. Scheduled for mark-up on Tuesday, H.R. 6315 was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) last Thursday with bipartisan co-sponsorship that includes Financial Services chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). Comment »June 9, 2008House Committee Tells U.S. Treasury to Heed Calls for Redesign of Clean Tech FundPosted by Joel Meister in Climate Change, Environment, Global Warming, Migration and Labor Mobility, World Bank, World Bank Clean Technology Fund Tags: Clean Technology Fund, On the Hill, World BankControversy over the World Bank’s proposed design for a multibillion dollar Clean Technology Fund (CTF) reached a House subcommittee last week. When the hearing ended, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), the chairman of the subcommittee, voiced support for CGD senior fellow David Wheeler’s scenario for a successful fund. Wheeler had urged that the CTF be redesigned to rapidly drive down the price of zero-emissions renewable power so that it becomes cheaper than electricity from coal and other fossil fuels — thereby helping to avert a climate disaster. 1 Comment »June 3, 2008House Hearing to put World Bank Clean Tech Fund in the SpotlightPosted by Administrator in Global Development, Global Warming, Migration and Labor Mobility, World Bank, World Bank Clean Technology Fund Tags: Clean Technology Fund, On the Hill, World BankLast week representatives of 40 countries meeting in Potsdam, Germany endorsed the World Bank’s proposal for a multi-billion-dollar Clean Technology Fund (CTF) to help developing countries meet their surging energy needs without accelerating climate change. The proposal is set to go to the Bank’s board in early July and senior bank officials say that they hope to raise at least $5.5 billion dollars for the CTF by the end of the year. Done deal? Perhaps not. Although President Bush has pushed the idea as an alternative to mandatory cuts in greenhouse gases and pledged $2 billion as an initial three-year contribution, the U.S. Congress has yet to consider the project. A House Financial Services Committee hearing on the CTF this week is expected to focus on how exactly the money would be spent. Will it be used to help drive down the price of zero-carbon renewable energy, such as solar thermal power? Or does the bank propose to use it as merely another source of cash for business as usual, including such high-emission projects as coal-fired power? Comment » |
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International cooperation on climate change got bad press during Secretary Clinton’s Asia trip this month, when Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh rebuffed Washington’s position that advanced developing countries should take on emission caps. The New York Times story “
The May 11-12th meeting of the Clean Technology Fund’s Trust Fund Committee will consider a proposed $6-8 billion solar thermal power program for North Africa and the Middle East, according to the World Bank’s Climate Investment Funds 
I’d like to put last week’s move by the U.S. Congress to eliminate a proposed contribution to the 
Well, the World Bank’s senior management has really done it this time: 
