Publications

Jan 13, 2020

South African Agri-Processing Resource Efficiency: Opportunities, Challenges and Outlook

IFC, in partnership with SECO and Agbiz, conducted a study on the opportunities, challenges and outlook of resource efficiency in South Africa’s agri-processing sector. The study identified the potential to save up to 30 million cubic meters of water per year, equivalent to 20 percent of the sector’s total water consumption, which will require an investment of $400 million. The study provides in-depth analysis on nine key sub-sectors and the policy framework on water use in agri-processing in South Africa.

English | 72 pages | 2020 IFC

Dec 3, 2019

Green Buildings: A Financial and Policy Blueprint for Emerging Markets

During the next decade, green buildings represent a significant low-carbon investment opportunity in emerging markets—$24.7 trillion by 2030. Cities in emerging markets are expanding at a fast pace to keep up with high population growth and rapid urbanization. The floor area of the buildings that dot our skylines is expected to double by 2060. Most of this growth will occur in residential construction, particularly in middle-income countries. Meeting the demand for new buildings through green construction can spur low-carbon economic growth and create skilled jobs in emerging markets for decades to come.

English | 2019 IFC

Sep 19, 2019

The Dirty Footprint of the Broken Grid

To better understand the impacts of generators on health, economies, and the climate, IFC has partnered with the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University to embark on the most comprehensive inquiry to date into the footprint and repercussions of using backup generators. This study explores fundamental questions about the scale and impacts of backup generators that have been largely unanswered beyond anecdote and local or regionally focused studies.

English | 64 pages | 2019 IFC

May 20, 2019

Greening Construction: The Role of Carbon Pricing

This study explores how carbon pricing mechanisms can be designed better to more effectively account for emis¬sions from the construction value chain. It identifies raw material production and use as the stages with highest emissions, and outlines the need for intervention at the earliest stages of the project to reduce emissions along the lifecycle. The analysis also finds that the method of project delivery and financing can impact the emissions profile of a constructed asset.

Nov 29, 2018

Climate Investment Opportunities in Cities - An IFC Analysis

As cities work to meet the needs of their residents, they can leapfrog historical approaches to urbanization – which creates significant opportunities for climate investment. This report finds that cities in emerging markets around the globe have the potential to attract more than $29.4 trillion in cumulative climate-related investments in six key sectors by 2030.

English | 158 pages | 2018 IFC

Oct 30, 2018

Construction Industry Value Chain

Construction companies are becoming increasingly accountable for their contribution to global emissions and are facing pressure from investors, banks, regulators, contracting authorities, and consumers to mitigate their climate risk and find new solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. In response, the industry is making inroads toward addressing these concerns.

English | 48 pages | 2018 IFC

Jun 29, 2018

Unlocking Private Investment

Côte d’Ivoire pledged to achieve 42 percent of renewable-energy generation by 2030 under the Paris Agreement to combat climate change. Achieving this target could create a $9 billion investment opportunity by 2030, but the key question is how to unlock private financing. Working with the Ivorian government, IFC developed a roadmap that highlights promising pathways toward attracting private sector investment while focusing on the government’s goals.

Mar 12, 2018

Good Practice Note: Environmental, Health, and Safety Approaches for Hydropower Projects

This Good Practice Note is intended to be used in conjunction with other EHS Guidelines and IFC's Performance Standards to identify, avoid, mitigate, and manage EHS risks and impacts in hydropower projects.

74 pages | © March 2018 IFC | Complimentary

Mar 2, 2018

Good Practice Handbook on Environmental Flows for Hydropower Projects

This Good Practice Handbook provides guidance to practitioners on taking rigorous and consistent approaches to assess and manage hydropower project impacts on downstream river ecosystems and people, through the assessment and provision of environmental flows (EFlows).

154 pages | © March 2018 IFC | Complimentary

Feb 26, 2018

Sustainable Banking Network (SBN) Global Progress Report

The IFC-supported Sustainable Banking Network (SBN)’s first comprehensive Global Progress Report evaluates sustainable finance principles and policies in 34 member countries.

74 pages | © February 2018 IFC | Complimentary

Feb 5, 2018

Climate Risk and Financial Institutions

Feb 5, 2018

Climate Risk Case Study - Hydro - Himal Nepal

Jan 10, 2018

Fact Sheet: Building a Sustainable Textile and Apparel Market in Bangladesh

This fact sheet provides an overview of how IFC's advice and expertise is helping Bangladesh meet the challenges and opportunities facing the textile and apparel industries, which account for 80 percent of the country's export earnings and employ 4.5 million people, mostly women.

Nov 27, 2017

Climate Investment Opportunities in South Asia - An IFC Analysis

By fully meeting the national targets they set under the Paris Agreement, South Asian countries can unlock $3.4 trillion of climate-smart investment opportunities, according to Climate Investment Opportunities in South Asia, a new report by IFC. The report identifies untapped opportunities for climate-smart investing in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka for sectors including renewable energy, transport, green buildings, urban wastewater, climate-smart agriculture, and municipal solid waste management.

Nov 1, 2017

Creating Markets for Climate Business Report

Developing countries can meet climate targets promised in the landmark Paris Agreement by catalyzing trillions of dollars in private investments through a combination of smart policy reforms and innovative business models, according to Creating Markets for Climate Business, a new report by IFC. The report identifies seven industry sectors that can make a crucial difference in catalyzing private investment: renewable energy, off-grid solar and energy storage, agribusiness, green buildings, urban transportation, water, and urban waste management. Already, more than $1 trillion in investments are flowing into climate-related projects in these areas. But trillions more can be triggered by creating the right business conditions in emerging markets.

Apr 28, 2017

IFC’s Definitions and Metrics for Climate-Related Activities

This document outlines the definitions and typology that IFC uses for identifying, promoting, and tracking climate-related investment and advisory projects.

English | 21 pages | 2017 IFC

Apr 27, 2017

Galvanizing Green Finance: A Bottom-up Approach

Dec 22, 2016

How Banks Can Seize Opportunities in Climate and Green Investment

Climate change presents risks and opportunities for the financial sector in both emerging and advanced economies. Financial institutions cannot afford to be outside of the transition path to low-carbon economies. Energy subsidies, emission standards, and carbon prices will all have a direct impact on the financial positions of these institutions’ clients, making climate risk an important element of any credit decision. Yet there are also significant opportunities for financial institutions to provide innovative financing products for energy efficiency upgrades, renewable power generation, green buildings, green transport, and climate-smart agriculture and architecture. And there is a growing community of investors seeking new climate and environment friendly opportunities.

English | 6 Pages - December - Note 27 | IFC, 2016 6| IFC

Dec 5, 2016

Mobilizing Private Climate Finance - Green Bonds and Beyond

The international market for green bonds—securities that raise capital for specific climate or environmental sustainability purposes—has experienced tremendous growth and could reach an annual market value of over $100 billion dollars this year. As part of this growth, new market tools, skills, and capital have been introduced into the green bond market to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and more broadly address the problem of climate change.

ENGLISH, 6 PAGES – DECEMBER – NOTE 25 | IFC, 2016

Sep 14, 2016

Insurance Options for Addressing Climate Change

Emerging markets are especially vulnerable to threats from climate change. Storms, droughts, and floods jeopardize the livelihoods of farmers, while extreme temperatures limit the ability of workers to be outdoors. Insurance is one tool that can help emerging markets adapt to climate change by heading off threats before they become disasters. Some pilot projects around the world are showing promise in using insurance to help emerging markets reduce the impact of climate change.

English | 3 Pages - September - Note 13 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 14, 2016

New Ways For Cities To Tackle Climate Change

Cities, which are home to half of the world’s population, are on the front lines of climate change. Extreme temperatures, storms, and floods have a higher impact in crowded urban areas. And cities in emerging economies will bear an even greater burden of climate change threats. Given their vulnerability, as well as their ability to affect change, cities will be key players in shaping efforts to lessen the impact of climate change. Now a number of new initiatives are helping urban leaders better assess and respond to climate risks.

English | 4 Pages - September - Note 12 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 14, 2016

How Business Can Insure Against Climate Risks

Insurance plays a vital role in protecting people, businesses, and public institutions against shocks, allowing them to transfer risks and purchase security. Insurers in advanced economies even act as financial intermediaries. In many emerging economies, however, insurance is still in a nascent stage. Yet it has the potential to become a critical tool for businesses to build operations that are resilient to climate change while also providing a source of economic growth. For insurance in emerging economies to take off, the public and private sectors must first lay the necessary groundwork.

English | 4 Pages - September - Note 11 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 14, 2016

How Data Tools Can Assess Climate Risks

Climate change doesn’t just threaten the environment, it poses risks to a country’s businesses and economy. Understanding these risks can be complex, yet there are a growing number of tools that can help businesses analyze how their operations will be affected. In order to integrate climate risk into their overall risk management models, companies will need a thorough understanding of how climate change can affect them. With it, they can then take steps to build resilience into operations.

English | 5 Pages - September - Note 10 | © IFC, 2016

Sep 14, 2016

Innovative Insurance To Manage Climate Risks

Severe storms, record heat waves, intense droughts, and floods—the impact of climate change rises every year and economic and financial losses rise with it. Insurance plays a major role in helping businesses in advanced economies mitigate the consequences of the changing climate and prepare for policy changes ahead. But insurance in emerging markets isn’t yet able to make the same contribution, despite the fact that natural disasters disproportionally affect people and firms in these countries. Recently, however, a number of new business and donor initiatives have begun to create innovative approaches to using insurance to address climate change.

English | 5 Pages - September - Note 9 | © IFC, 2016

Jan 20, 2016

A Solar Developer’s Guide to Pakistan

This guide provides background for those who are implementing or intending to invest in solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants in Pakistan.

85 Pages | © 2016 IFC | Complimentary