An internal watch dog reported this week that - since 1990 - the World Bank has committed in word to environmental projects that it did not commit to in practice.

It is reported that the World Bank estimated a total of $59 billion in investment for environmental projects from the years 1990 to 2007.

With that figure in mind, the watch dog investigated the World Bank's dealings, and found that a comparatively low total of just $18.2 billion was actually invested in environmental projects that were deemed significantly eco-friendly.

Those deemed over 80% geared towards the environmental were included in the $18.2 million.

It seems that the remaining $40.8 million was invested in small projects with some - but little - environmental impetus.

Official spokesmen for the World Bank are denying the claims.

Since the turn of the decade, the World Bank has indeed invested in a number of environmental projects.

Opened on the 30/11/08, the 'Land Based Poverty Alleviation Project I' - which centres on Brazil but gives aid to Latin America and the Caribbean - aims at the development of impoverished nations in the area.

The World Bank outlined four main policies to help it achieve the goal:

"The components will:

1) Include land purchases by community associations of poor farmers, funded by loans financed through Federal Government budgetary sources, representing the counterpart funding for the Bank financed project components.

2) Include subprojects to be made available to participating communities, eligible for complementary investment financing, and technical assistance (TA), to establish the land settlement, and improve the productivity of the acquired land.

3) Finance TA, seminars and training for community associations, to strengthen the effectiveness, and quality of project operations, through capacity building programs for community mobilization, specialized skills, best practices, and public awareness.

4) Support project coordination, supervision, and monitoring, and, provide the basis to judge ex-post project impacts, and determine ex ante, possible program extensions."

The 'Land Based Poverty Alleviation Project I' is due to close 31/12/08, totalling eight years of aid.

In 2005, they also committed to an active improvement of eco-systems in Africa, with the 'Africa Stockpile Program', which centres on Tunisia and South Africa.

It aims to remove harmful pesticides and wastes from production, whilst encouraging the removal of such items in the future.

Once again, the procedures for the program are carefully outlined:

"The project consists of the following components:

1) A full range of disposal, cleanup and prevention activities to achieve the Project objectives in the participating countries.

2) Deliver to country Projects the highly technical and specialized expertise required for implementation, supervision and monitoring of country level activities outlined under Component 1

3) Deliver knowledge management, awareness-raising, strategic studies and outreach services across the entire Africa Stockpiles Programme Project 1."

The Africa Stockpiles Programme will close on 30/11/10.

With each initiative, then, the World Bank makes sure to stress in detail how it will come to implement the changes, and as each project closes, it undertakes careful reflection and review.

Indeed similar projects were opened this year, including the promotion of a wind power market in Jordan, an investment into the finance of energy efficiency in China, and land administration projects in Vietnam.

Whilst the World Bank comes under criticism, then, it can turn to its own extensive reports for proof of its continued commitment to its environmental initiatives.

Whether or not the criticism over the $59 billion investments is fair, it remains to be seen.

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