Climate change presents a major threat to long-term growth and prosperity, and it has a direct impact on the economic wellbeing of all countries. The IMF has a role to play in helping its members address those challenges of climate change for which fiscal and macroeconomic policies are an important component of the appropriate policy response.

We are gradually mainstreaming climate-related risks and opportunities into our macroeconomic and financial policy advice. Climate considerations are now embedded in our bilateral and multilateral surveillance, capacity development, and lending, while we also increasingly collaborate with other institutions and fora.

Through our analytical work we have examined policy issues such as an international carbon price floor, the transition to a green economy, border carbon adjustments, scaling up private climate finance in emerging market and developing economies, strengthening climate information architecture, fiscal policies to support adaptation, and green public investment and public financial management. 

IMF Climate Change Strategy
Our Policy Guidance Relates to:
Climate mitigation and the IMF
Mitigation

Including advice on measures to contain and reduce emissions through policies—such as increasing carbon taxes, reducing fuel subsidies and improving regulation—and providing tools to help countries achieve their Nationally Determined Contributions.

Climate adaptation and the IMF
Adaptation

Including guidance on building financial and institutional resilience to natural disasters and extreme weather events, and infrastructure investments to cope with rising sea levels and other warming-related phenomena.

Climate transition and the IMF
Transition to a low-carbon economy

Including updates to financial sector regulation to cover climate risks and exposure to “brown” assets, as well as measures to help countries diversify economies away from carbon-intensive industries while mitigating the social impact on affected communities.