World Bank/COP21/meeting with Jim Yong Kim, World Bank Group President

World Bank Group President Dr Jim Yong Kim and French President François Hollande spoke today about the Paris Climate Conference (COP21), the importance of development funding and the international community’s responsiveness during natural disasters.

The World Bank President welcomed France’s efforts to profoundly change the attitudes of developed and emerging countries towards climate change. He also confirmed the multilateral development banks’ commitment to climate finance, in response to the French President, who emphasized its importance for COP21’s success. Noting that 2015 will be a pivotal year for these issues, Mr Kim said:
“Climate change seriously affects development and the fight against poverty. The World Bank Group is well aware that without strong action, global warming could prevent the lifting of millions of people out of poverty and wipe out decades of development.”

Speaking of the Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Addis Ababa in July, Mr Kim and M. Hollande warned that new sources of development funding are essential if we are to achieve the eradication of extreme poverty by 2030 and promote shared prosperity.

“The end of extreme poverty is within reach, but to achieve this ambitious target would require greater collaboration between governments, the private sector, multilateral banks and all development partners," said the World Bank Group President.

Regarding the devastating earthquake that has hit Nepal, Mr Kim restated: “We were shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy in Nepal, with its terrible human toll and material destruction. We are in close contact with the Nepalese authorities, who have specifically requested our support to help carry out an assessment of damage and reconstruction needs in urban areas affected by the quake. The World Bank Group is a long-standing partner of Nepal and will do everything possible to help people through this ordeal.” Mr Kim and M. Hollande agreed to coordinate a response to the vast devastation caused by the earthquake that hit Nepal on Saturday./.