Climate change presents a major threat to long-term growth and prosperity, and has a direct impact on the economic wellbeing of all countries. The IMF has an important role to play in helping its members institute fiscal and macroeconomic policies to help address these climate-related challenges. We are mainstreaming climate-related risks and opportunities into our macroeconomic and financial policy advice. Climate considerations are now embedded in our bilateral and multilateral surveillance, capacity development, and lending. We also increasingly collaborate with other organizations on climate issues.
Through our analytical work we have examined policy issues such as an international carbon price floor, the transition to a green economy, border carbon adjustments, scaling up private climate finance in emerging market and developing economies, strengthening climate information architecture, fiscal policies to support adaptation, and green public investment and public financial management.
Delivering on global climate goals requires a shift to renewable energy and other green technologies. The main challenge for developing economies is securing funding for this transition. With limited fiscal space and low financial development, foreign direct investment (FDI) and official lending are crucial. This high-level panel discussed market reforms and financial sector policies to attract official financing, the impact of climate policies on FDI in low-carbon technologies, and the conditions needed to attract it.
Sleepwalking to a Cliff Edge: A Wake-Up Call for Global Climate Action
Policies to Foster Green FDI: Best Practices for Emerging Market and Developing Economies
Destination Net Zero: The Urgent Need for a Global Carbon Tax on Aviation and Shipping
Focus Area: Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Staff Climate Notes
IMF Climate Change Strategy
Closing the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and math would accelerate the green transition while making it more inclusive
Easing the burden on lower-income households is not only socially fair, but also economically efficient
New books offer fresh perspectives on climate, China, and John Maynard Keynes
Data Gaps Initiative helps policymakers better understand the environmental impact of economic activities and the effectiveness of climate policies
Our biggest challenges—from global warming to demographic and technological transformations—cannot be resolved by countries acting alone.
Meeting the continent’s emission reduction targets could enhance energy security metrics by 8 percent by 2030—and that would be just the start
Public investment in Belgium has been low historically. Against severe budgetary constraints and fiscal consolidation requirements, public investment should however be preserved or, ideally, increased to mitigate the demand impact of consolidation and enhance productive capacity to lift potential growth. Furthermore, there is growing need for strategic public investment to facilitate digitalization and the green transition. This paper examines these intertwined challenges and proposes policy measures to help bolster public investment.
Real GDP growth stabilized at 4.2 percent in 2024. Led by food and energy prices, year-on-year inflation persisted, rising from 7.3 percent in March 2024 to 8.6 percent in December 2024 as deteriorating road and electricity infrastructure continued to weigh on transportation and production costs. Fiscal performance over the first part of the year was mixed, mostly due to the disbursement of an exceptional loan to JIRAMA, only partially compensated by the slow execution of domestically financed public investment.
This note provides general guidance on Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) operations, including for arrangement requests and reviews. The RSF provides longer-term, affordable financing to members to help them address risks to prospective BOP stability stemming from longer-term macro critical structural challenges from climate change and pandemic preparedness. The note has benefited from early experience gained during the operationalization of the RSF; the outcome of the May 2024 RST Interim Review; the launch of the Enhanced Cooperation Framework for Scaled Up Climate Action with the World Bank; and the approval of Broad Cooperation Principles on Pandemic Preparedness in RSF operations with the World Bank and the World Health Organization.
This technical assistance conducts a Climate Policy Diagnostic (CPD) for Papua New Guinea, covering climate adaptation and mitigation policy, as well as enabling institutions. Climate-related risks are macro-critical considerations for Papua New Guinea, while the country faces acute policy challenges in addressing climate-development nexus. This CPD identifies policy reforms that are good for climate and economic growth and promote fiscal sustainability. A systematic policy approach is needed to strengthen the climate resilience of water supply sector and disaster risk management. Carbon pricing can play a major role in the fiscal policy package to encourage climate actions in the energy and forestry sectors. Increasing the Treasury’s engagement and strengthening cross-sectoral coordination would also help unlock climate investment.
This technical assistance conducts a Climate Policy Diagnostic (CPD) for Papua New Guinea, covering climate adaptation and mitigation policy, as well as enabling institutions. Climate-related risks are macro-critical considerations for Papua New Guinea, while the country faces acute policy challenges in addressing climate-development nexus. This CPD identifies policy reforms that are good for climate and economic growth and promote fiscal sustainability. A systematic policy approach is needed to strengthen the climate resilience of water supply sector and disaster risk management. Carbon pricing can play a major role in the fiscal policy package to encourage climate actions in the energy and forestry sectors. Increasing the Treasury’s engagement and strengthening cross-sectoral coordination would also help unlock climate investment.
The IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) conducted a Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA) and Climate Module (C-PIMA) for The Gambia to assess public investment management (PIM) and its climate sensitivity. The assessment found improvements since the 2019 PIMA, including the 2020 Cabinet Memorandum for strategic project reviews, the 2023 SOE Act for centralized oversight, and enhanced procurement regulations. However, despite these institutional improvements, effectiveness has yet to catch up and, in some cases, has weakened. Climate resilience is also insufficiently addressed, with weak integration of climate risks into project planning and outdated regulatory frameworks. Key recommendations include establishing a public investment management information system, strengthening PIM oversight within the Ministry of Finance, formalizing project selection pipelines, and embedding climate-related criteria in investment decisions.
Public investment in Belgium has been low historically. Against severe budgetary constraints and fiscal consolidation requirements, public investment should however be preserved or, ideally, increased to mitigate the demand impact of consolidation and enhance productive capacity to lift potential growth. Furthermore, there is growing need for strategic public investment to facilitate digitalization and the green transition. This paper examines these intertwined challenges and proposes policy measures to help bolster public investment.
Real GDP growth stabilized at 4.2 percent in 2024. Led by food and energy prices, year-on-year inflation persisted, rising from 7.3 percent in March 2024 to 8.6 percent in December 2024 as deteriorating road and electricity infrastructure continued to weigh on transportation and production costs. Fiscal performance over the first part of the year was mixed, mostly due to the disbursement of an exceptional loan to JIRAMA, only partially compensated by the slow execution of domestically financed public investment.
This note provides general guidance on Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) operations, including for arrangement requests and reviews. The RSF provides longer-term, affordable financing to members to help them address risks to prospective BOP stability stemming from longer-term macro critical structural challenges from climate change and pandemic preparedness. The note has benefited from early experience gained during the operationalization of the RSF; the outcome of the May 2024 RST Interim Review; the launch of the Enhanced Cooperation Framework for Scaled Up Climate Action with the World Bank; and the approval of Broad Cooperation Principles on Pandemic Preparedness in RSF operations with the World Bank and the World Health Organization.
This technical assistance conducts a Climate Policy Diagnostic (CPD) for Papua New Guinea, covering climate adaptation and mitigation policy, as well as enabling institutions. Climate-related risks are macro-critical considerations for Papua New Guinea, while the country faces acute policy challenges in addressing climate-development nexus. This CPD identifies policy reforms that are good for climate and economic growth and promote fiscal sustainability. A systematic policy approach is needed to strengthen the climate resilience of water supply sector and disaster risk management. Carbon pricing can play a major role in the fiscal policy package to encourage climate actions in the energy and forestry sectors. Increasing the Treasury’s engagement and strengthening cross-sectoral coordination would also help unlock climate investment.
This technical assistance conducts a Climate Policy Diagnostic (CPD) for Papua New Guinea, covering climate adaptation and mitigation policy, as well as enabling institutions. Climate-related risks are macro-critical considerations for Papua New Guinea, while the country faces acute policy challenges in addressing climate-development nexus. This CPD identifies policy reforms that are good for climate and economic growth and promote fiscal sustainability. A systematic policy approach is needed to strengthen the climate resilience of water supply sector and disaster risk management. Carbon pricing can play a major role in the fiscal policy package to encourage climate actions in the energy and forestry sectors. Increasing the Treasury’s engagement and strengthening cross-sectoral coordination would also help unlock climate investment.
The IMF’s Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) conducted a Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA) and Climate Module (C-PIMA) for The Gambia to assess public investment management (PIM) and its climate sensitivity. The assessment found improvements since the 2019 PIMA, including the 2020 Cabinet Memorandum for strategic project reviews, the 2023 SOE Act for centralized oversight, and enhanced procurement regulations. However, despite these institutional improvements, effectiveness has yet to catch up and, in some cases, has weakened. Climate resilience is also insufficiently addressed, with weak integration of climate risks into project planning and outdated regulatory frameworks. Key recommendations include establishing a public investment management information system, strengthening PIM oversight within the Ministry of Finance, formalizing project selection pipelines, and embedding climate-related criteria in investment decisions.
Article IV consultations will cover macro-critical issues triggered by climate change and/or the need to contain it. These include countries’ contributions to the global mitigation effort, especially by large emitters; domestic policy challenges that arise in the context of achieving countries’ nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement; macroeconomic policies to adapt to and build resilience to climate change; and challenges presented by a global transition to low-carbon energy.
Financial Stability Assessment Program (FSAP)
FSAPs are paying increasing attention to climate risk analysis for the financial system. Recent FSAPs have looked at the implications of transition risk in Norway, South Africa, Chile, Colombia and the UK, and physical risk in the Philippines. Where relevant, climate risk considerations are also being embedded in FSAP reviews of financial supervision and regulation.
The IMF already supports member countries through capacity development in countries vulnerable to climate change and natural disasters.
Adaptation
Guidance on building financial and institutional resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather events, and infrastructure investments to cope with rising sea levels and other warming-related phenomena.
Mitigation
Advice on measures to contain and reduce emissions through policies—such as increasing carbon taxes, reducing fuel subsidies and improving regulation—and providing tools to help countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions.
Transition to a low-carbon economy
Advice on measures to contain and reduce emissions through policies—such as increasing carbon taxes, reducing fuel subsidies and improving regulation—and providing tools to help countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions.
Data
The IMF's Climate Change Indicators Dashboard provides a platform for disseminating climate change data for macroeconomic and financial stability analysis. The dashboard helps users assess the linkage between economic and financial activities and government policies on the one hand, and climate change (and environment more broadly) on the other—either on a country-level or cross-country basis—by analyzing a standardized set of comparable data.
The IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) helps low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries build resilience to external shocks and ensure sustainable growth, contributing to their longer-term balance of payments stability. It complements the IMF’s existing lending toolkit by providing longer-term, affordable financing to address longer-term challenges, including climate change and pandemic preparedness.
Panelists discuss how to enhance partnerships and cooperation to scale up adaptation financing for EMDEs and explore the role various stakeholders play in n attracting private capital for adaptation investments.
anelists discuss how specific countries benefited from the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST) and the lessons learned in the process.
This session assesses the question: Is the world on track to net zero? Building on updated IMF research, it will explore how to equitably close the global gap in climate ambition to achieve the Paris Agreement goals.
Delivering on global climate goals requires a shift to renewable energy and other green technologies. The main challenge for developing economies is securing funding for this transition. With limited fiscal space and low financial development, foreign direct investment (FDI) and official lending are crucial.
The world is sitting on a razor's edge, and the deciding factor between future prosperity and potential runaway climate disaster is a single number-- 1.5.
To hit net zero by 2050, emerging and developing countries will need substantial amounts of additional renewable energy investment--because domestic financial resources are limited, foreign direct investment, or FDI, is key.
