AT A GLANCE: The Corporate Responsibility (CR) Program is a partnership of the Environment Department (ENV), Treasury (TRE), and General Services (GSD) and has three main areas of focus:
· The program supports Treasury in its strategic effort to broaden its investor base by reaching out to Socially Responsible Investors (SRIs) and developing new products and services. Helping the World Bank to be recognized as an organization with sustainable and responsible business practices is an essential element of this focus. · In partnership with various champions around the Bank, the Corporate Greening Program aims to reduce our environmental footprint. This effort entails measuring and managing our green house gas emissions, promoting energy conservation and waste reduction, and educating staff on environmental issues. · Through sustainability reporting, the program promotes greater transparency on the World Bank’s environmental and social performance at both the operational and corporate levels. Leading by Example The CR team is working closely with the World Bank (WB) Treasury to develop innovative products that stimulate private-sector financing for climate action. The first bond product linked to climate change, the “green bond,” responds to growing interest from sustainable or socially responsible institutional investors, as well as some individual investors, who wish to support climate change-related projects in developing countries. In partnership with SEB, the World Bank raised 2.85 billion Swedish Kroner for these activities via several institutional investors. Recent Achievements · The WB has reduced its paper use by 100 tons between fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2008, a reduction of 20% and the recent paper procurement process incorporated far-reaching sustainability standards into the standard bidding documents. · The first inventory of carbon emissions associated with World Bank Group country offices was compiled, and a global WBG Inventory Management Plan developed. The Washington, D.C., inventory was independently verified by ERT Winrock Company. · New computer purchases incorporated Energy Star and EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) standards. · The Bank is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for two of its Washington buildings. Five World Bank staff members recently earned LEED accreditation. · Three of the Bank Group’s Washington buildings are recognized by Energy Star for being in the top quartile of energy performance when compared to other buildings of their types. · A green roof was installed on one of the Washington, DC, Bank buildings to divert rainwater, mitigate the urban heat effects of the building, and reduce cooling needs. · The WB was awarded bronze designation by the Bike Friendly Business program for its robust bicycle program. Sustainability Reporting Since 2004, “Sustainability Briefs” and two biennial sustainability reports, Focus on Sustainability, have been issued, while a third is being prepared. The reports include information on both operations and the corporate footprint and reference the Global Reporting Initiative indicators (GRI), the international standard for sustainability reporting. The last sustainability report was shortlisted by Ceres/ Association of Chartered Certified Accountants for best sustainability report. A new report is expected to be released by 2009. The 2008 GRI index is already on-line at www.worldbank.org/cesr under “Global Reporting Initiative.” Media Contacts: Patricia Overend: (202) 473-1710 Email: poverend@worldbank.org Roger Morier: (202) 473-5675 Email: rmorier@worldbank.org Karolina Ordon: (202) 458-5971 Email: kordon@worldbank.org Updated April 2009 |
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