‘Ridiculous is the only word for it’: Trump-loyal World Bank head faces resignation calls after climate comments

Long-time Trump loyalist David Malpass has largely kept his opinions out of his day job as president of the World Bank — until now. On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly last week, Malpass refused to clarify his position on human-induced climate change, saying his CV lacked the necessary scientific credentials to do so. “I don’t even know. I’m not a scientist,” he said.

His response brought calls for his sacking. “Ridiculous is the only word for it,” Climate Council senior researcher and climate diplomacy expert Dr Wesley Morgan told Crikey. “In 2022 it is ridiculous that the head of the World Bank should say he is unsure of the climate science. To me that says he’s not doing his job properly.”

The World Bank under his tenure has been continuously criticised by climate activists for its failure to move on climate action, particularly in its sustained financing of fossil fuel projects.

“International development banks like the World Bank have a key role to play in redirecting international finance away from fossil fuels to clean energy solutions,” says Morgan.

“The International Energy Agency, among others, have made it clear that we can have no new fossil fuel projects if the world is to get to net zero by 2050. International finance institutions like the World Bank need to be reflecting that in all aspects of their policy.”

The buck stops with Malpass. Last year, more than 70 non-governmental organisations called for him to be removed as the World Bank’s head. Following his recent commentary — which he has since sought to reel back — calls for his resignation have once more gained pace.

A press secretary for the US president condemned his commentary, stating there is an expectation for the World Bank to be a “global leader of climate ambition and mobilisation”.

Convention dictates that the US president gets to appoint the head of the bank. President Biden has the capacity to remove Malpass from his position should there be consensus from other countries.

For his part, Malpass has sought to walk back his comments. He now says it is clear that greenhouse gas emissions are causing climate change and has defended the bank’s record on climate-related investments.

“I’m not a denier,” he told CNN International. “It’s clear that greenhouse gas emissions are coming from man-made sources, including fossil fuels, methane, the agricultural uses, the industrial uses, so we’re working hard to change that.”

Malpass was appointed to the role in 2019 by former US president Donald Trump, one of many close aides charged with carrying the Trump legacy beyond his term.