Bringing Multilateral Environmental Agreements into Development Finance: An Analysis of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank's Environmental and Social Framework. Issue 3 (11th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Wei-Chung
• Is Part Of: Transnational environmental law. Volume 11:Issue 3(2022)
• Page Start: 655
• Page End: 681
• Publication Date: 2022-11-11
• Subjects: Multilateral development banks (MDBs) -- Safeguard policies -- Multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) -- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) -- Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) -- Independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs); Environmental law, International -- Periodicals; 344.046
• DOI: 10.1017/S2047102522000127
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-1025

Abstract

Abstract: Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are crucial in promoting economic growth through their project finance activities. Meanwhile, to address negative effects arising from their development projects, MDBs increasingly have focused their attention on the environmental and social impacts of their supported projects in recent decades. This article analyzes the relationship between the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) adopted by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). It argues that better compliance with MEAs by the AIIB and its borrowers in implementing AIIB-supported development projects will be achieved only if its independent accountability mechanism (IAM) can actively examine project compliance with the ESF in the light of MEAs. The AIIB has an opportunity to provide leadership in promoting the fulfilment of MEA obligations in development finance. However, this is contingent on ensuring effective oversight by its newly established IAM moving forward.