Letter to the ADB President calls for action on fossil fuels

As a new coalition calling for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to go fossil free launched, 36 organisations sent a letter to the ADB’s President Masatsugu Asakawa calling on the ADB to demonstrate meaningful climate leadership and stop fuelling the climate crisis with its financing and support for fossil fuels.

The ADB is currently reviewing its Energy Policy and the letter revealed that it has spent roughly $10 billion on fossil fuels since its current policy was released in 2009. This included the Rupsha 800 MW Combined Cycle Power Plant in Bangladesh, despite its proximity to the river-systems of the Sundarban Mangrove Forest, threatening the livelihoods of about 1,500 fisherfolk communities.

Instead of continuing support for fossil fuel and other destructive projects which may also become future financial liabilities, the organisations called on the ADB to commit to a climate safe and equitable future which puts the bank on a sustainable course.

To find out more, read the full letter and visit Fossil Free ADB.