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       How Environment Sustains Development - 2011 World Bank Group Environment Strategy:
                        Toward a Green, Clean and Resilient World for All


                              Report to the Board of Executive Directors from the
                                    Committee on Development Effectiveness 


                                             Meeting of January 23, 2012


       The Committee on Development Effectiveness (CODE) met to discuss the document entitled
How Environment Sustains Development – 2011 World Bank Group Environment Strategy: Toward A
Green, Clean and Resilient World for All (CODE2012-0001).
         CODE Members strongly supported and endorsed the proposed Environment Strategy. They
welcomed its World Bank Group (WBG) wide approach, the broad consultation process, and the timing
of this strategy, in the aftermath of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban and ahead
of the Rio+20 Summit. Members noted that the proposed strategy strikes the right balance between
ambition and pragmatism, but stressed the need to be clearer and more specific as to its priority areas and
results indicators, and to be flexible in its implementation and adaptive to country circumstances. They
welcomed WBG efforts to advance green house gas (GHG) accounting for investment projects and
overall private sector participation in greener growth initiatives. Members raised questions relating to
staff skills and incentives, and available funding for implementing the proposed strategy. Members
expressed their support to the proposed strategy’s emphasis on South-South learning. They suggested
strengthening language in support of small islands and fragile states, regional capacity building, and the
need for resource efficiency. Members called for the strategy to be mainstreamed within Bank operations
and aligned with individual sector strategies while also calling for the WBG to measure its own
environmental impact. They noted that collective action by the international community would be key to
implementation.
        Management highlighted that the Environment Strategy was a WBG effort involving internal
collaboration with Regions and Sectors, and extensive external consultations. The strategy looks to
contribute to client, partner and private sector efforts to tackle major threats to the global environment and
transformations needed to move to a more green, clean and resilient world. “Green� refers to a world in
which natural resources are conserved and sustainably managed to improve livelihoods and ensure food
security. “Clean� refers to a low-pollution, low-emission world in which cleaner air, water and oceans
enable people to lead healthy, productive lives. “Resilient� means being prepared for shocks and adapting
effectively to climate change, where countries are better prepared for more frequent natural disasters and
the long-term consequences of climate change.
         IEG was pleased to see the continued emphasis on biodiversity, and noted that GHG accounting
would contribute to rigorous project assessment. It noted that the Strategy had not yet defined core
indicators, which are critical for the specification of the results framework. IEG also commented on the
need for prioritizing efforts and on the need to find funding for the Strategy’s ambitious knowledge
agenda.




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    This report is not an approved record.