This is what I mean by #BullytheRich
David Malpass, the Trump-appointed World Bank president, announced he was leaving the bank with less than a year remaining in his five-year term.
This month, David Malpass the president of the World Bank quietly announced his early resignation. This was only a few months following a summit in New York last fall, he was asked publically whether he believes fossil fuel burning was warming the planet.
Speaking onstage during a panel on climate finance, Malpass was asked several times whether he believes the "manmade burning of fossil fuels is rapidly and dangerously warming the planet." He tried to dodge the question before saying: "I don't even know. I'm not a scientist."
The president of the United States, the largest World Bank shareholder, traditionally nominates World Bank presidents, subject to confirmation by the bank's board. Former president Donald Trump nominated Malpass to a five-year term in 2019.
His decision to step down comes as much welcomed news to many climate action groups, who loudly called for his resignation after his September comments that even drew scrutiny from house democrats.
Over two dozen House Democrats sent a letter Thursday urging U.S. President Joe Biden to "advocate for the removal or forced resignation" of World Bank president David Malpass, who has come under fire for his recent refusal to acknowledge the indisputable connection between planet-heating fossil fuel emissions and increasingly catastrophic wildfires, hurricanes, and droughts.
"Under David Malpass, the World Bank lost valuable time in fighting climate change, which put the bank further behind on its mission of ending poverty and ensuring shared prosperity," Luisa Abbott-Galvao, senior international policy campaigner at Friends of the Earth U.S., said in a statement.
"Malpass not only failed to stop actions that fuel climate chaos and injustice, he pushed for Wall Street-friendly policies that go against the public interest," Abbott-Galvao added.
After being appointed by Trump in 2019, Malpass rarely mentioned climate change and aligned himself and his actions with Trump's policies. After Biden entered the White House, Malpass began to work on climate policy, releasing a five-year âclimate action planâ that did not include fossil fuel divestment:
In April 2021, the World Bank released a five year, 100 billion USD Climate Change Action Plan that would devote 35% of all financing to climate co-benefits, 50% of climate financing to climate change adaptation, and harmonize its financing goals with the Paris Agreement by 2023. The plan faced criticism that 35% was too low and that it did not move the World Bank towards fossil fuel divestment.[26][27]
David Malpass was confronted on September 19th, 2022. The fallout from his fumbled response led to Malpass issuing an internal memo to the world bank staff and holding an interview with CNN International on September 22nd: where he insisted he was not a climate change denier.
Now, merely two months into 2023, he has announced he is stepping down. His vacancy opens up the opportunity for a World Bank nominee that prioritizes real action on climate change.
When I say #BullytheRich I donât mean give them a swirly or take their lunch money (although some wealth redistribution would be nice) I mean use the pressure that is the âcourt of public opinionâ.
The Holler
For in-depth and extensive coverage of the developments in East Palestine, Ohio, I highly recommend The Holler. John has been on the ground since the news broke about the train derailment and has the best independent coverage of the events.
I first found John Russell on Tiktok where he spoke about being a democrat and running a dive bar in a deeply red state. Reminding all of us that corporate greed affects all of us regardless of party affiliation. His journalism has been immensely impactful and continues to hold focus on holding the corporate interests responsible for the disaster in Ohio. Norfolk Southern has much to answer for, as does every politician who acted on the railroadâs behalf.
Stop Cop City Update:
https://www.stopcopcitysolidarity.org/mobilize
In response to the murder of Tortuguita, and the approval of Cop Cityâs final permit, frontline organizers are calling for a large scale mobilization in Atlanta from March 4-11.
Everyone is needed in Atlanta to stop Cop City, defend the Weelaunee Forest, and honor the life of Tortuguita. Please make your plans now, and share this invitation with your networks, organization, friends, and family.