The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 14, 2025
Today: April 14, 2025

Exclusive-World's top MDBs to forge debt-for-nature swap 'task force' - sources

Fires in Brazil's Pantanal wetland
April 26, 2024
Marc Jones - Reuters

By Marc Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - The world's top multilateral development banks are set to launch a global "task force" at the COP28 climate summit in the coming days to scale-up the number and size of 'debt-for-nature' swaps countries are able to do, four sources told Reuters.

Debt-for-nature swaps, where a developing country's debt is cut in return for protecting vital ecosystems, are attracting growing interest following a number of successful examples in places such as Belize and the Galapogas Islands in recent years.

The move is the most significant step so far in showing that the global club of multilateral lenders, which between them have trillions of dollars worth of firepower, will significantly ramp up support of these types of environment-focussed deals and is expected to lead to a major increase in the number and size of debt-for-nature swaps.

Four sources involved in the plans, which are expected to be announced at the COP summit's 'finance day' on Monday, say the group will formally be called the "Task Force on Sustainability-linked Sovereign Financing for Nature and Climate".

It will initially be chaired by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and U.S. government's Development Finance Institution (DFC), said three of the sources which have direct knowledge of the matter. Both of the lenders have been involved in all of the recent swaps which have also included Barbados and Gabon.

Institutions have until Friday to confirm they will join, but those expected to do so include the World Bank, Inter European Investment Bank (EIB), African Development Bank (AfDB), Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Beijing-headquarted Asian Infrastructure Development Bank and a number of others, the sources added.

(Reporting by Marc Jones; editing by Christina Fincher)

Related Articles

Newly discovered fungus turns cave-dwelling spiders into โ€˜zombiesโ€™ Brazil's Lula backs oil exploration in the Amazon ahead of hosting UN climate talks Arizona has added an endangered bat to the list of night-flying creatures that frequent the state A North Carolina wildlife crossing will save people. Can it save the last wild red wolves too?
Share This

Popular

Business|Economy|Political|Technology|US

Expert predicts how much an iPhone would cost if it was made in the US

Expert predicts how much an iPhone would cost if it was made in the US
Business|Economy|Europe|Finance

UK companies focused on cashflow and cost-cutting ahead of Trump tariffs, Deloitte says

UK companies focused on cashflow and cost-cutting ahead of Trump tariffs, Deloitte says
Business|Economy|Europe|Finance

UK property asking prices up 1.3% on year, Rightmove says

UK property asking prices up 1.3% on year, Rightmove says
Business|Economy|Political|Technology|US

Trump says chips from China will face national security probe; further tariffs expected

Trump says chips from China will face national security probe; further tariffs expected

Economy

Business|Economy|Finance|Political|Stock Markets|Technology|US

Trump official says tariff exemptions on tech are temporary. Elizabeth Warren calls trade war โ€˜red light, green lightโ€™ game

Trump official says tariff exemptions on tech are temporary. Elizabeth Warren calls trade war โ€˜red light, green lightโ€™ game
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|Stock Markets|US

Trump team tries to project confidence and calm after his tariff moves rattled markets

Trump team tries to project confidence and calm after his tariff moves rattled markets
Business|Economy|Finance|Political|US

Bridgewater's Ray Dalio says Trump trade war has put US 'close to a recession'

Bridgewater's Ray Dalio says Trump trade war has put US 'close to a recession'
Africa|Economy|Election|Political|World

Gabon's leader Nguema elected president with 90.35% of vote, interior minister says

Gabon's leader Nguema elected president with 90.35% of vote, interior minister says

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In