Panel Discussion | The World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok: Financing Development or Fueling the Climate Crisis?

Accountability Counsel brings together environmental defenders from Indonesia, India, Thailand, and the Philippines to discuss the interconnection between energy and extractive projects, development finance, the climate crisis, and accountability.

Billions of dollars are being invested in energy, extractives, and infrastructure projects around the world. But what happens when these investments have consequences for the peoples and communities living alongside them?

As the World Bank Group Annual Meetings will take place in Bangkok from October 12-18, this special half-day event brings together environmental defenders and their allies from Indonesia, India, Thailand, and the Philippines to share their experiences and discuss how investors and development finance institutions should be held accountable when projects cause environmental destruction, and intensifying climate crisis.

The discussion will explore the challenges communities face in preventing, mitigating and obtaining remedies for environmental and human rights harm, as well as practical accountability pathways that communities and defenders can use. Speakers will also discuss what the World Bank Group and other development finance institutions can do to better protect people and the planet.

Join us for panel discussions below:

Panel 1: Thai Communities Resisting Climate False Solutions
Community representatives from Prachinburi, Chachoengsao, and Southern Border Provinces experiencing environmental destruction and human rights violations linked to energy projects will share their stories and reclaim the narrative for people-led climate justice. 

Speakers: 

Sutharee Wannasiri, Accountability Counsel  

Ridtidat Boonyaburanakit, Strong Prachinburi Community Network

Ueangfa Chamket, Chachoengsao Re: Power

Abdulloh Awae and Aemboerin Samae, Civil Society Assembly for Peace (CAP-Nature)

‍Panel 2: Holding Investors Accountable for Harming Our Planet
Community advocates from Indonesia and the Philippines will share their experiences challenging environmental and climate change impacts linked to internationally financed projects—and explain how communities can use accountability mechanisms to seek remedies.

Speakers:

Margaux Day, Accountability Counsel

Martha Doq, Perkumpulan Nurani Perempuan

Yuvensius Stefanus Nonga, WALHI Nusa Tenggara Timur

Aaron Pedrosa, Philippine Movement for Climate Justice

Presentation - The Accountability Toolkit
A short demonstration of the Accountability Toolkit, which helps communities navigate financial institutions' accountability mechanisms, followed by the first public announcement of its upcoming AI Accountability Advisor.

Panel 3: Money, Power, and Planetary Harms: The World Bank Must Be Held Accountable. 

As the World Bank and government representatives meet in Bangkok, advocates will share a concrete list of actions the World Bank needs to take to be accountable to peoples and the planet. 

Speakers:

Tala Batangan, Coalition for Human Rights in Development

Joe Athialy, Centre for Financial Accountability 

Stephanie Amoako, Accountability Counsel

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‍Remark: The event will be in Thai, English, and Bahasa Indonesia. Simultaneous translations will be provided for in-person participations.

Register here to reserve your seats or email: info@accountabilitycounsel.org

The session will also be streamed online for registered participants. Coffee and tea will be served, with the bar and restaurant open.

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