What happened? U.S. opposition to climate-linked lending at the IMF
🇺🇸 The United States has stopped supporting climate-linked lending efforts at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) — including casting “no” votes or abstentions on related financing initiatives at the institution. This marks a clear shift in U.S. positions at the IMF, signalling less willingness to back lending policies that explicitly tie climate action to macroeconomic support.
bloomberg.com
While details are still emerging, this follows broader actions by the current administration to reassert traditional IMF priorities (macroeconomic stability, core development lending) and to push back against what it views as “mission creep” into climate-related issues.
bloomberg.com
🌍 Context: broader U.S. retreat from climate finance multilateralism
This latest IMF move is part of a broader trend of U.S. disengagement from multilateral climate finance and policy efforts under the current administration:
In October 2025 the U.S. declined to sign a joint climate agenda statement at the World Bank – highlighting divisions with other countries over prioritizing climate financing.
Reuters
Previously, other analyses noted the U.S. pushing the IMF and World Bank to de-emphasize climate action and refocus on core mandates, with U.S. Treasury officials critiquing climate work as outside the institutions’ mission.
Green Central Banking
The U.S.’ disengagement has been framed by some observers as creating space for other countries (notably China) to gain influence in global climate financing and aid leadership roles.
lowyinstitute.org
