Taking Action on Climate Change

November 15, 2011 – In less than two weeks, the nations of the world will gather in Durban, South Africa, for the annual United Nations conference on climate change.

Ahead of the meeting, Andrew Steer, World Bank Special Envoy for Climate Change, describes how the Bank is helping countries and people to take action on climate change.
From solar power investments in Morocco to climate smart agricultural practices in Niger and innovative insurance schemes in Mongolia, Steer highlights action that is taking place on the ground with the help of the World Bank.

“More than 130 developing countries have asked the World Bank Group to work with them on adaptation and mitigation,” says Steer. “And in over 90 countries, we are working with those countries to help them to adapt because try as we might to stop climate change it is happening,” he says.

Describing why the World Bank cares about climate change, Steer says “Because we care about reducing poverty, and if you care about reducing poverty in today’s world then you have to take climate change seriously.”