Open Letter to Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB) Board of Governors

We – grassroots movements, non-government organizations and civil society networks from Asian countries and the rest of the world welcome the fact that we were invited to submit our proposals and concerns during the process of drafting the Energy Sector Strategy of the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB).  We note that a number of these proposals were taken on in the final version.

We would like to express, however, our strong disappointment and disagreement with the Energy Sector Strategy paper still allowing for the financing of COAL. While it qualifies the conditions under which coal projects can be financed by the AIIB,  the circumstances described still leaves the door wide open for coal support.

The deeply harmful impacts of coal mining and coal power plants on communities and the environment are undeniable and well-documented.  Coal power’s huge contributions to the escalation of the climate crisis is well-established and widely acknowledged.  It is in direct contradiction to AIIB’s avowed commitment to sustainable development and the Paris Agreement which expresses a goal of keeping temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The problem of energy poverty still affects hundreds of millions of people in the region. Governments have used this as justification to expand the coal power industry – referring to coal as the quickest and cheapest solution to the problem of energy access.  This is not an acceptable argument. Neither is it acceptable to present “clean coal technologies” as the alternative to old and obsolete coal technologies.  There is no longer any excuse not to directly shift to renewable energy systems, which have already become more economically and financially feasible alternatives as evidenced by experiences in many countries including China and India.

Likewise, we disagree with AIIB supporting large hydro systems. For decades communities in Asia have resisted these projects for their devastating social and environmental impacts.

The AIIB, if it is to be true to its claims as a “green bank,” must marshal its resources to support a swift and just transition to renewable and clean energy systems for people and communities of Asia, and put an end to fossil fuels and other harmful energy as soon as possible.  Our people and planet deserve no less. #

Signed:

1. Adivasi Mulvasi Astitva Raksha manch – India

2. AKSI – Indonesia

3. Alliance for Tax and Fiscal Justice – Nepal

4. All Nepal Peasant’s Federation (ANPFa) – Nepal

5. All Nepal Peasants Federation -Nepal

6. All Nepal Womens Association –Nepal

7. Alyansa Tigil Mina ( ATM) – Philippines

8. Aniban ng Manggagawa sa Agrikultura(AMA)-Philippines

9. ARENA –Asia/Regional

10. Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) – Asia/Regional

11. Bank Information Center (BIC) – Europe/regional

12. Bangladesh Krishok Federation -Bangladesh

13. Bangladesh Jatiyo Sramik Jote -Bangladesh

14. Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino ( BMP)– Philippines

15. Bulig Visayas – Philippines

16. Campaign for Climate Justice Nepal

17. Central Eastern European Bankwatch – Europe/regional

18. Center for Energy Ecology for Development (CEED) – Philippines

19. Center for Environmental Justice (CEJ)  – Sri Lanka

20. CHANGE – Vietnam

21. Climate Reality Project -Philippines

22. Climate Watch-Thailand

23. CLEAN Bangladesh

24. Community Development Library – Bangladesh

25. Conservation Action Trust -India.

26. Debt Watch – Indonesia

27. EarthRights International

28. EquityBD – Bangladesh

29. FKNJ Jepara – Indonesia

30. Focus on the Global South – Asia/Regional

31. Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC) – Philippines

32. Friends of the Earth (FOE) – USA

33. GEFONT –Nepal

34. Gitib –Philippines

35. Green Alternative, Georgia

36. GreenID –Vietnam

37. Greenpeace Southeast Asia

38. Greenpeace -Indonesia

39. Greenpeace -Philippines

40. Greenpeace -Thailand

41. Himalaya Niti Abhiyan – India

42. Human Rights Alliance – Nepal

43. Inclusive Development International – global

44. Indian Social Action Forum –India

45. Institute for Essential Services and Resources –Indonesia

46. Jagaran Nepal

47. Jatam – Indonesia

48. Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation – India

49. Koalisi Anti Utang – Indonesia

50. KRUHA – Peoples Right to Water Coaliton – Indonesia

51. LDC Watch – Global

52. Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center/Friends of the Earth -Philippines

53. Leave it in the Ground Initiative (LINGO) – Europe

54. Migrant Forum in Asia (MFA) – Asia/Regional

55. Mines, minerals and People (mmP) – India

56. Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation – Malaysia

57. Nadi Gati Morcha – India

58. National Federation of Hawkers -Bangladesh

59. National Federation of Hawkers – India

60. National Federation of Women Hawkers- India

61. National Women Peasants Association, Nepal

62. Nepal Youth Peasants Association –Nepal

63. NGO Forum on ADB – global

64. Our Rivers Our Life – Philippines

65. Paguyuban UKPWR Batang -Indonesia

66. Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum- Pakistan

67. Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee – Pakistan

68. Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) –Philippines

69. RE:Common – Italy

70. River Basin Friends – India

71. Rural Reconstruction Nepal

72. Sanlakas Philippines

73. Sawit Watch – Indonesia

74. SEAFISH for Justice

75. Solidaritas Perempuan (Women) – Indonesia

76. South Asian Alliance for Povery Eradication (SAAPE)

77. South Asia Food Sovereignty Network

78. South Asia Peasants Coalition

79. SUPRO (Campaign for Good Governance) – Bangladesh

80. Task Force Detainees of the Philippines (TFDP) -Philippines

81. Trade Union Policy Institute(TUPI) -Nepal

82. Unnayan Onneshan –Bangladesh

83. Urgewald – Germany

84. VOICE – Bangladesh

85. Vietnam Sustainable Energy Alliance (VSEA) -Vietnam

86. WALHI/Friends of the Earth -Indonesia

87. Youth for Climate Justice ( Y4CJ) – Philippines