2006 Highlights

IFC Promotes Climate-Friendly Investments (December 2006)
IFC is calling on banks in developing countries to increase their lending to companies wishing to invest in climate-friendly technologies. Read more...



IFC Investment Standards Drive Positive Change (December 2006)
Adhering to IFC's social and environmental standards helped a major Brazilian soybean exporter, Grupo Maggi, make important changes to its business practices. Read more...



IFC Helps Develop Market for Affordable Lighting (October 2006)
IFC's "Lighting the Bottom of the Pyramid" project aims to bring affordable, alternative sources of lighting to the poor through the development of the Light Emitting Diodes market. Read more...



IFC Announces Winners of Sustainable Investment Competition (September 2006)
IFC awarded a $500,000 grant to CRISIL, Standard & Poor's, and KLD; and to Trucost and CLSA, the winners of its research competition "Capturing Value." Read more...



The Business Case for Cleaner Production in African Hotels (July 2006)
Financed by the International Finance Corporation, a cleaner production audit of four hotels in Mali and Burkina Faso revealed that energy and water savings could increase the hotels' net profit by about 50%. Read more...



IFC Leads Development of Human Rights Assessment Guide for Businesses (July 2006)
At the instigation of IFC and the Novartis Foundation, businesses and organizations specializing in human rights gathered to discuss tools that can help businesses identify and address human rights challenges facing the business community. Read more...



Equator Banks Adopt New IFC Environmental and Social Standards (July 2006)
The Equator Banks adopted on July 6, 2006 the revised Equator Principles, which are based on IFC's new performance standards. "IFC will continue to support the broad membership of the Equator Principles."
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IFC Launches New Sustainability Web Portal - One Stop Access to Sustainability Resources (June 2006)
Responding to growing stakeholder interest, the portal connects visitors to IFC's full range of sustainability products and services, and explains the business case for sustainability. Read more...



A Greener China: A New Approach to Financing Energy Efficiency (May 2006)
For the first time, three key players in China's economy – utilities, suppliers of energy efficiency equipment, and commercial banks – have come together to create a new financing model for promoting energy efficiency.
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World Bank/IFC online dialogue: What's the future of the carbon market? (May 2006)
Rachel Kyte and Waren Evans, directors of the Environment Departments at the IFC and the World Bank respectively, present their views on the future of the carbon market online. Read more...



IFC Launches 2005 Sustainability Report (April 2006)
IFC's 2005 Sustainability Report shows how the institution is using its unique position and resources to respond to global challenges. Read more...




IFC Makes Business Case for Sustainable Energy in Russia and Eastern Europe (April 2006)
IFC has helped local banks finance energy efficiency projects in Eastern Europe, showing companies in the region that energy efficiency is also good business.
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IFC pushes for market-based mechanisms to protect biodiversity (March 2006)
IFC launched the Private Sector Guide to Biodiversity and called for creative, market-based mechanisms to value biodiversity and best practices for biodiversity conservation. Read more...



IFC and Carbon Finance: Building for the Future (February 2006)
IFC has been pioneering carbon finance programs to support the flexible trading mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. Read more...



Small Entrepreneurs Deliver Clean Drinking Water (February 2006)
IFC's collaboration with WaterHealth International has leveraged small entrepreneurs to bring clean drinking water to more than 50,000 people in India, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. Read more...