This study examines the proactive publication practices of four promotional and development banks —the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau, and the Banco Português de Fomento—when it comes to environmental information concerning the projects they finance.

Subjects covered by the study include what information the banks publish and how, the role played by project promoters and other partners, the legal basis for publication, and planned changes to publication practices.

The study was commissioned by the European Parliament’s Directorate-General for Parliamentary Research Services (EPRS) on the request of the European Ombudsman as a follow-up to an inquiry concerning public access to environmental information for projects financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The study was financed by the Ombudsman and conducted by LE Europe.