Washington, D.C. — In response to remarks by World Bank President David Malpass—in which he refused to acknowledge the reality of human-caused climate change—Senior Director for International Climate Policy Frances Colón issued the following statement:
These ridiculous remarks put Malpass squarely in the company of climate deniers. Saying “I’m not a scientist” is the very definition of passing the buck and denying the clear scientific consensus that climate change is happening and is fueled by human activity. It’s absurd that in 2022, we even need to discuss this. Malpass should try telling the 1.5 million people without power in Puerto Rico thanks to Hurricane Fiona, or the more than 30 million people displaced by the devastating and historic floods in Pakistan, that he’s not a scientist, so he can’t be sure if climate change is causing their suffering. The World Bank should be leading on climate—helping the world to meet its Paris Agreement emissions targets by facilitating the transition to renewable economies, not underwriting fossil fuel projects and spewing climate denialism. It’s time for Malpass to be removed. Global shareholders deserve better.
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