Trump Can End the World Bank’s Climate Hypocrisy

Countries like Germany make a show of their virtue and insist that Africa remain impoverished

By Bjorn Lomborg. Excerpts:

"Sub-Saharan Africa—excluding relatively well-off South Africa—is home to 1.2 billion people, who together consume less electricity annually than Florida’s 23 million."

"Multilateral banks whose supposed purpose is ending poverty have widened this chasm by choking off funding to the fossil-fuel projects Africa needs to establish reliable, affordable energy."

"The World Bank now diverts 45% of its financing to climate spending."

"Germany still gets more than three-quarters of its energy from fossil fuels, including coal, as it pushes green energy on Africa."

"Europe responded to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the pressure this put on their fossil-fuel access not by embracing renewable nirvana and the attendant lower quality of life. Instead, the Continent set about restarting coal plants and buying natural gas from around the world"

"Activists will wail about climate doom. But their math doesn’t hold up. Africa is responsible for only 3.8% of global emissions. The Group of 20 nations churn out over 80%, and last year China built two coal plants a week."