Coal and corruption - the case of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The EBRD is about to approve a new energy strategy, yet it is unclear to what extent it will follow other public lenders in halting coal financing. In this paper we step away from the discussions on climate issues to take a look at another reason why the EBRD should be wary of investing in coal projects: corruption.

If the EBRD wants to convince a sceptical public that it is part of the solution and not of the problem, it is going to have to strengthen its anti-corruption policies and publicly prove that it has taken appropriate action.