ABSTRACT
Environmental aid emerged as a topic in the 1980s when negative environmental impacts of aid projects, among others led by the World Bank, were first highlighted, and subsequently addressed through impact assessments procedures. National wealth, strong environmental advocacy groups, and post-materialist values appear to improve the environmental impact of a donor’s aid. Provision of environmental aid to address global environmental problems may also be perceived by donors as more cost-effective or politically more feasible than taking stronger domestic action. The ultimate question is whether aid—in general and environmental aid in particular—is effective. Financial assistance to help developing countries implement such conventions became a new focus of environmental aid. Concern surrounding additionality is one of the driving forces behind initiatives for increased transparency in aid allocation and aid results, such as the International Aid Transparency Initiative and the database AidData.
