International Leaders and Civil Society Urge Action on Climate Change

GFDD attended 2015 Annual Meetings of The World Bank Group and the IMF in Peru

The Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and of the World Bank Group meet once a year to discuss the work of their respective institutions. This year, these Annual Meetings were held in Lima, Peru, the week of October 5. In addition, the Civil Society Policy Forum, a program of events including policy sessions for civil society
organizations, was held simultaneously. Approximately 5,000 representatives from around the world attended the Annual Meetings and the Civil Society Policy Forum. Numerous policy sessions, flagship conferences, networking spaces, and interesting discussions on important development issues, including governance, citizen engagement, climate change, safeguards, resettlements, extractives, human rights and more, took place.

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development
(GFDD) attended these civil society organization meetings in Lima, Peru, as part of its mission of engaging in strategic regional events that focus on relevant topics to the socioeconomic sustainable development of the Americas.

During these meetings, which focused on the obstacles to ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity including climate change, weak global growth, and ongoing crises in fragile states, the World Bank announced that the number of people living in extreme poverty was projected to dip below 10% of the world’s population in 2015 for the first time.

“While we remain confident of ending extreme poverty, the final stretch will be extremely difficult because we
are in the midst of a period of slow global growth,” said Jim Yong Kim, World Bank’s President.

Several sessions and relevant speakers urged action on climate change at all levels and others promoted social innovation as a key element to boost economies in the region.

About the WB/IMF Annual Meetings
The Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) each year bring together central bankers, ministers
of finance and development, private sector executives, and academics to discuss progress on the work of the IMF and the World Bank Group. Also featured are seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, and many other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the world’s financial markets.

For more information:
www.imf.org
www.worldbank.org