The World Bank: The evolution of the environmentally sustainable development paradigm

Environmental standards were once considered a luxury that only developed nations could afford. However, after decades of development efforts, the condition of many of the world's poorest peoples have remained unchanged. The Environmentally Sustainable Development Vice Presidency of the World Bank (ESDVP) has seized the momentum in the implementation of environmentally-focused projects and programs. Moreover, the Bank has incorporated environmental assessments (EA) into all of its financing activities. This paper analyzes this ESD initiative and examines two projects--Minas Gerais Municipal Management and Environmental Infrastructure Project and the Espirito Santo Water and Coastal Pollution Management Project--both located in the United States of Brazil. The first project was begun prior to the formalization of the ESDVP, while the second came under the auspices of the program. This paper examines the ESD paradigm, measures its impact and efficacy on the World Bank's chief recipients--the disenfranchised populations of the developing world.