Global

Financial Policy Overseas

As part of Pacific Environment's broader mission, our global work promotes environmentally and socially sustainable policies and practices among public and private finance institutions. With a principal focus on energy and the extractive sector (renewable energy, oil, gas, coal, mining, and forestry) on the Pacific Rim, Pacific Environment persuades these finance institutions to be more open, accountable, and responsive to citizens’ concerns, particularly in project-affected communities.

Our work to reform the policies and practices of public and private banks has expanded its focus to include multilateral development banks, export credit agencies, and large private international banks. After a decade of campaigning, a basic environmental policy framework is now in place for each of the three classes of institutions. However, proper implementation of these policies has become a vexing challenge, and structures that obscure funding flows, such as private equity and financial intermediaries, are expanding.

The lesson we’ve learned over the years is simple: Harmful extractive projects in the developing world rarely go forward without large sums of public and private financing. Block or change the flow of this financing and you get results: the worst projects can be blocked; many projects can be greatly improved; good project, including renewable energy can advance, and local people can have a greater say in decisions that affect their lives.

Click HERE to view US Ex-Im Bank's Fossil Fuel Financing History