What the year looked like for our work
From the start of 2025, challenging geopolitics, strained multilateralism, and the worst ever debt crisis for developing countries affected our work influencing the multilateral development banks (MDBs). It quickly became clear there was a greater risk of backsliding on fossil fuels and climate commitments. Gas expansion was back on the table and in decision-making spaces, including at COP30, where the MDBs and a private sector first approach were once again put forward as the silver bullet for climate finance.
All of this was accompanied by the terrifying and ever-present catalogue of climate impacts - most recently Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, multiple super typhoons in the Philippines and deadly flooding across Indonesia, Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia. People in the Global South remain on the frontlines of climate disaster and this demonstrates the urgency for a transition to renewable energy that centres justice and equity.
As we reach the end of a tricky year it is also important to celebrate people power and thank Big Shift Global coalition members around the world who stood firm and continued the work in 2025
Our main demands to MDBs in 2025
- No backsliding: end all funding for fossil fuels
- Stop labelling gas a ‘transition fuel’ - it’s bad economics and a bridge to nowhere
- Shift finance to sustainable renewables and ensure energy access for all
- MDBs need to reform to fulfil any role in delivering climate finance (in addition to ending fossil finance, this includes transparency, democratic governance and not contributing to exacerbating the debt crisis)
Our Year in Numbers
6 MDB Annual Meetings attended by members of the Big Shift coalition from across the world (World Bank Spring meetings, AFDB Annual Meeting, ADB Annual Meeting, EBRD Annual Meeting, AIIB Annual Meeting, World Bank Annuals)
1 petition demanding no backsliding on fossil fuels at the World Bank (There’s still time to add your name)
100s of people across the globe, from Madagascar to Washington DC, Kenya to the Philippines took to the street calling on the World Bank to end its silence on the climate crisis when positioning itself as a climate leader.
1 stunt outside the World Bank offices in DC calling for no backsliding on fossil fuels
93 joined the discussion organised by SYND Ghana on what MDBs do and how their decisions influence Ghana’s energy transition and climate resilience.
4 new video case studies demonstrating the real impacts of gas projects on people’s lives (Bangladesh, Ghana, Nigeria and Pakistan)
300 people attended our webinars on why MDBs must stop funding gas
4 news reports produced by journalists in Pakistan on the problems with World Bank finance for gas
0 the score most civil society organisations gave the Asian Development Bank’s revised energy policy on NGO Forum’s scorecard
Some key advocacy reports produced by members of the coalition
If you fancy getting up to speed on MDBs and energy finance ready for 2026 here’s some reading to get you there:
- Big Shift Global published a joint briefing on gas and debt; recommendations for a new World Bank CCAP and briefing on transition minerals and the role of MDBs
- Bank Climate Advocates supported a legal opinion on the responsibilities of MDBs in complying with the International Court of Justice that declared States have a binding legal duty to prevent climate harm
- Bretton Woods Project wrote about how green conditionality in climate finance undermines a just transition at the World Bank
- Germanwatch’s report covered the role of MDBs in delivering the COP28 outcome on ending fossil fuels and tripling renewables.
- Power Shift Africa highlighted the potential of Mission 300 for Africa if done right.
- Recourse produced many reports and case studies on MDB energy investments including MDBs increasing role in climate finance, recommendations for MDB clean energy finance and with TrendAsia on the risks of the Tangguh LNG project in Indonesia
Where we saw change
- Big Shift members in Africa have worked tirelessly to influence Mission 300 - the World Bank and African Development Bank's initiative on energy access in Africa. And guess what? In a huge win for people power, communities in Africa will now have a key influencing opportunity to work with the Bank technical staff on the type of energy supported as well as the role of citizen engagement in decisions about energy that affects communities. Amazing work!
- From Bangladesh to Ghana and Pakistan people raised the alarm about what problems gas investments are bringing to local communities. In Pakistan, this made multiple national news stories, helping to share our message far and wide.
- We continued to call out the World Bank for its fossil finance and called on it to shift this money to renewable energy, feeding our recommendations into discussions about a possible new energy strategy. 2026 needs to be the year the Bank ends all fossil finance.
- As the Asian Development Bank reassessed its energy strategy, through letters and meetings we ensured our recommendations on ending gas finance and investing in renewable energy reached decision-makers. Despite a disappointing outcome, (so much for becoming Asia's 'Climate Bank'), our Asian colleagues and allies are continuing to make our voices heard and advocate for a better future.
What people liked on our social media
The reels in our myth-busting series on Instagram were a 2025 winner. One of the top performing reels asked ‘True or False? If people want real energy security for their communities, renewable energy is the answer.’ 97% of the viewers of this reel were not following Big Shift which meant we reached an audience beyond our usual viewers.
Is age just a number?
We know if this was a Spotify Wrapped we would have an average listening age. What we do know is that the World Bank Group turned 80 last year. At this age the Bank should be old enough to understand a few principles of justice and equity - or perhaps it needs unsticking from its old colonial habits. As it continues to invest the most in fossil fuels out of all the Banks, we know we have to bring everything we have to fight for a fairer future in 2026.
Stronger together
Sending a huge thank you to everyone who made this work a success in 2025. Our voices and our impact are stronger together. In 2026, we will be returning to hold the Banks to account and fight for an end to fossil finance and a just energy transition.