>@Virojt Changyencham/Getty Images
©Virojt Changyencham/ Getty Images
  • Worldwide 2021 figures surpass 2025 climate finance goals, with global mitigation finance of nearly $63 billion
  • Global adaptation finance reaches over $19 billion
  • The amount of mobilised global private finance stands at $41 billion 

Climate finance committed by major multilateral development banks (MDBs) rose by more than 24% last year compared to 2020, according to the 2021 Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks’ Climate Finance, published today.

The 2021 total financing by multilateral development banks already surpassed the 2025 climate finance goals set at the 2019 UN Secretary General’s Climate Action Summit in New York. The goals amount to an expected collective total of $50 billion for low- and middle-income economies, and at least $65 billion of climate finance globally, with a projected doubling of adaptation finance to $18 billion, and private mobilisation of $40 billion.

Low- and middle-income countries

In 2021, MDBs provided around $51 billion (62% of overall MDB climate finance) in climate finance to low- and middle-income economies. Of this total, more than $33 billion (65%) was for climate change mitigation and more than $17 billion (35%) for climate change adaptation. The amount of mobilised private finance stood at $13 billion.

High-income countries

In addition, in 2021, MDBs provided more than $31 billion (38% of overall MDB climate finance) in climate finance to high-income economies, with $29 billion (95%) for climate change mitigation and $1.6 billion (5%) for climate change adaptation. The amount of mobilised private finance stood at $28 billion.

EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle commented: “To meet the Paris Agreement goals, we must increase climate finance at scale. Ahead of the COP27 conference, this report sends the encouraging message that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, multilateral development banks in 2021 have collectively increased their climate finance worldwide to a total of $82 billion, of which $51 billion in low and middle-income countries and $31 billion in high income countries, mobilised significant private sector resources and worked with clients around the world. At the EIB, we are delighted to have delivered a record year for 2021, with 49% of our funding dedicated to climate action. We stand ready to continue supporting climate projects worldwide.”

The Joint Report on Multilateral Development Banks’ Climate Finance is an annual collaboration to make the banks’ climate finance figures public, together with a clear explanation of the methodologies for tracking this finance. This joint report, alongside the publication of climate finance statistics for each bank, is intended to track progress in relation to their climate finance targets, such as those announced around COP21, and the greater ambition pledged for the post-2020 period.

The 2021 multilateral development bank report, coordinated by the EIB, combines data from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IADB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the World Bank Group (WBG). This year’s report also summarises information on climate finance tracking from the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) and the New Development Bank (NDB), presented separately from the joint figures.

Joint MDB Report Infographic

Joint MDB Report

Background information

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union and is owned by the EU Member States. The EIB Group has adopted a Climate Bank Roadmap to deliver on its ambitious agenda to support €1 trillion of climate action and environmental sustainability investments in the decade to 2030 and to deliver more than 50% of EIB finance for climate action and environmental sustainability by 2025. As part of the roadmap, all new EIB Group operations have been aligned with the goals and principles of the Paris Agreement since the start of 2021.

EIB Global is the EIB Group’s new specialised arm dedicated to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance. EIB Global is designed to foster strong, focused partnerships within Team Europe, alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local people, companies and institutions through our offices across the world.