Climate change threatens both to undermine the long-term efforts of the region to achieve sustainable development and to affect the most vulnerable members of society disproportionally.

To respond to increasing demand for clients for assistance in addressing climate change, the General Capital Increase (GCI-9) commits the Bank to support mitigation and adaptation efforts of borrowing members while meeting their developmental and energy requirements. GCI-9 sets a target of 25 percent of total lending going to a growing portfolio on climate change, environmental sustainability, and renewable energy.

In order to address risks, mainstream climate change in its operations, and further integrate both public and private sectors, during 2010, the Bank worked on strategic and operational development, adaptation and mitigation efforts, knowledge generation and dissemination, the establishment of partnerships, and the mobilization of climate finance from external sources. A dedicated team works across all Bank sectors to address these issues.