"The Obama administration faces the first test of its pledge to oppose funding for overseas coal projects today when the Asian Development Bank (ADB) board decides on $900 million for a coal plant in Pakistan."
"Environmentalists have put pressure on the United States to vote against the plant instead of merely abstaining, as countries often do before the multilateral development bank boards when they oppose a project but also don't want to stand in the way of its ultimate approval.
Bank officials and Pakistani leaders say the 600-megawatt Jamshoro thermal power plant near Hyderabad is critical for the energy-starved nation, which contributes 0.5 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Some also caution that opposing the project could strain the fragile diplomacy between the United States and Pakistan."
Lisa Friedman reports for ClimateWire December 9, 2013.
