France has reaffirmed its commitment to keeping the World Bank’s climate finance agenda intact, pushing back against U.S. efforts to scale back global climate ambitions. French Development Minister Eleonore Caroit stated that Paris “will not give up” on the lender’s goal of dedicating 45% of its financing to climate-related projects, a target set under the Biden administration but now under pressure from the Trump administration [1][2].

Speaking at the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Washington, Caroit emphasized that climate and development must remain intertwined. “Climate is of utmost importance because we’re aligned with the Bank’s objective of development and job creation, but it has to be jobs on a livable planet,” she said [2].

The Trump administration, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, has called for the World Bank to abandon its 45% climate target and resume financing fossil fuel projects such as coal, oil, and gas. Bessent criticized the Bank’s current direction, describing its vision of “a world free of poverty on a livable planet” as “vapid, buzzword-centric marketing” [1][2].

Caroit confirmed that she raised the issue directly with Bessent, underscoring the importance of open dialogue even amid deep policy differences. Despite these disagreements, she noted potential areas of cooperation, particularly on nuclear energy and climate adaptation projects. France and the U.S. both view nuclear power as a sustainable, low-carbon energy source, a shared stance that could serve as common ground in broader climate and energy discussions [1][2].

France also sees opportunities for collaboration on resilience and adaptation initiatives, such as projects mitigating floods and wildfires. These efforts, Caroit argued, are “climate finance by another name,” even if the U.S. prefers to frame them as infrastructure or disaster prevention [1].

Looking ahead, France plans to make climate action a central theme of its 2026 G7 presidency. Paris aims to ensure that global financial institutions remain aligned with the Paris Agreement and that sustainable development continues to drive multilateral finance priorities [1][2].

As tensions rise over the future of the World Bank’s climate mandate, France’s position underscores its broader diplomatic goal: defending the integration of sustainability within global development finance. “Development and jobs make sense only on a livable planet,” Caroit affirmed [1].

Referensi
[1] ESG News. France Reaffirms Support for World Bank Climate Finance Goals Despite U.S. Pressure. Retrieved from https://esgnews.com/france-reaffirms-support-for-world-bank-climate-finance-goals-despite-u-s-pressure/

[2] Reuters. France will not give up on World Bank climate goals, minister says. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/france-will-not-give-up-world-bank-climate-goals-minister-says-2025-10-17/