Civil society presses AIIB to tighten climate, community safeguards

Civil society groups are calling on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to establish a specific timeline for ending fossil fuel financing during its 2027 energy strategy review. During the 2026 AIIB Annual Meeting in Doha, Qatar, the NGO Forum on ADB urged the bank to stop funding new gas and liquefied natural gas projects.

Nazareth Del Pilar, a Just Transitions Advocacy Officer for the NGO Forum, stated that the upcoming review will determine if the bank is ready to transition toward low-carbon energy or if it will continue using gas and heavy hydropower as part of its strategy. While the bank has increased renewable energy financing since 2022, the Forum noted that current policies still allow for fossil gas and related infrastructure.

The groups also requested that the bank strengthen protections for communities affected by large hydropower and other infrastructure projects. Del Pilar called for a consultation process with better resources to ensure meaningful participation from human rights advocates, environmental groups, and local communities.