Promoting Environmental Sustainability in Development : An Evaluation of the World Bank's Performance

Abstract

Substantial improvement has been done by the Bank in its environmental performance since 1987. The Bank focused on the environment as a new area of activity, and it has sought to mitigate the negative environmental effects of its development interventions. The Bank's participation in the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and the 1992 World Development Report on the environment, demonstrated the Bank's engagement, which helped launch many environmental activities. These efforts have produced commendable results, and promoted awareness in developing country governments, of the linkages between the environment, and development. This evaluation report finds that the Bank has made progress on environmental issues, but notes that its commitments have not been accompanied by precise goals, and performance monitoring. It advances explanations of why things have turned out this way, and offers recommendations that focus on how to restore the environment to its proper role, in the Bank's holistic, long-term development agenda.