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This policy document describes an approach to forecasting future climate at the local level using historical weather stations, satellite data and future projections of climate data from global climate models (GCMs) that is easily understandable by policymakers and planners. It describes an approach to synthesize the myriad climate projections, often with conflicting messages, into an easily-interpreted set of graphical displays that summarizes the basic implications of the ensemble of available climate models.

This analytical report looks at climate change as a tragedy of the commons: despite the global benefits of reducing green-house gas emissions, no individual has any incentive to reduce his or her own emissions. Yet many people are making efforts to reduce emissions and putting pressure on businesses and governments to do the same.

This analytical report proposes ideas regarding what can be done to combat climate change at the household, microbusiness, microfinance institution, and systemic levels. Within the microfinance sector, the word “sustainable” has tended to be used in a very narrow way, mainly referring to institutions that are financially viable. In the past few years, the term has broadened to include social performance. Today, the increasing emphasis on responsible finance has added environmental impact to the factors considered as measures of success for a microfinance institution.

This analytical report addresses the environmental consequences of global warming and of the increase in sea surface temperatures. The study assesses eighty-four coastal developing countries in five regions. It considers the potential impact of a large (1-in-100-year) storm surge by contemporary standards, and then compares it with intensification which is expected to occur in this century. This is the first such exercise for developing countries.

This analytical report reviews the scientific literature on climate change and sea level rise (SLR) to date. There appears to be a consensus across studies that global sea level is projected to rise during the 21st century at a greater rate than during the period 1961 to 2003 and unanimous agreement that SLR will not be geographically uniform. Ocean thermal expansion is projected to contribute significantly, and land ice will increasingly lose mass at an accelerated rate.

This analytical report is a background paper to the 2010 World Development Report and looks at the cognitive and behavioural challenges in responding to climate change. It asks why climate scientists have identified global warming as the most important environmental issue of our time, but it has taken over 20 years for the problem to penetrate the public discourse in even the most superficial manner.

This analytical report is a background paper to the 2010 World Development Report exploring the challenge of climate change governance. It examines in particular the role that national governments can play in putting in place institutions, policies, plans and measures to promote mitigation of, and adaptation to, human induced climate change.

This technical document provides an overview of the current understanding about the range of different approaches to geoengineering. From the wide range of suggested approaches, four potentially viable approaches to limiting near term impacts are identified that, in the author’s opinion, merit immediate study and consideration.

This analytical report presents an overview of what adaptation to climate change might mean for ECA countries. It starts with a discussion of emerging best practices on adaptation planning around the world. Then it discusses possible activities to improve resilience organized around impacts on natural resources (water, biodiversity, and the coastal environment), health, the “unbuilt” environment (agriculture and forestry), and the built environment (infrastructure and housing). The last chapter concludes with a discussion of two areas in great need of strengthening given the changing climate: disaster preparedness and hydrometeorological services.

This activity report attemps to set out a compelling argument for including ecosystem-based approaches to mitigation and adaptation as a third and essential pillar in national strategies to address climate change.

Extreme weather events are known to have serious consequences for human health and are predicted to increase in frequency as a result of climate change. Africa is one of the regions that risks being most seriously affected. This analytical report quantifies the impact of extreme rainfall and temperature events on the incidence of diarrhea, malnutrition and mortality in young children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This technical document aims at defining, gathering, and disseminating international statistics based on the World Development Indicators 2009. This edition focuses on urban areas and the environment, exploring how cities and climate change are affecting the way we live and how good public policies can improve prospects for future generations.

This analytical report details progress on clean energy development and diffusion. More specifically it focuses on the efforts the WBG is making to work in partnership with the private sector to leverage its resources, since the WBG, despite being one of the largest multilateral development bank lenders for energy, can meet only a small part of the investment needed. Consequently, as the WBG continues to grow its energy investments in absolute terms, it increasingly sees its role as a catalyst in working with  client countries and the private sector to increase the available resources.

This activity report illustrates MIGA’s contribution to reduce the adverse impact of climate change by focusing on supporting green infrastructure investments in developing countries which build renewable energy capacity, encourage resource conservation and distribution efficiency, improve sanitation, and off-set greenhouse gas emissions.

This analytical report introduces how the IFC contributes to address climate change. Tackling climate change in developing countries is one of the World Bank Group’s priorities. As the private sector member of the World Bank Group, IFC is helping private companies identify business risks associated with climate change as well as business opportunities. IFC provides its client companies with expert advice on reducing, managing, and mitigating the impacts of climate change on their businesses and on investing in sustainable energy and carbon finance.

This activity report presents the International Finance Corporation (IFC) approach to climate change and how this concern is incorporated in its projects and investments. Climate change is one of IFC’s strategic pillars and a core element of sustainability. The Corporation considers climate change implications in all its investments through requirements to quantify its carbon footprint, discusses best available technologies and explores opportunities for carbon offsets. Over the next three fiscal years (FY09-11), IFC has committed to increase lending for clean energy by two to three times.

This activity report explains how the International Finance Corporation tracks renewable energy and energy investments, introducing basic definitions and methodologies.

This analytical report analyses how climate change can affect the poorest countries and how the World Bank and IDA can provide funding and help to developing countries to adapt to the changes that will occur.

This publication brings together the collective knowledge about water resources management acquired both within the World Bank water team and with counterparts working in the Arab countries of North Africa and the Middle East (MNA). The book deals with topics as diverse as impacts of climate change on irrigation and desalination and the art of water diplomacy.

Three winners of the 2009 International Essay Competition were selected during the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics in Seoul, Korea. The sixth edition of the competition focusing on the theme of climate change attracted 2,469 submissions from over 150 countries.