More than 10 billion dollars have been lent by the World Bank for environment projects all over the globe. Eighteen projects amounting to $902 million, and 10 agriculture, water, or urban development projects totalling $590 million were approved in the fiscal 1998. But the cumulative loans to this sector have tapered off. While the loans grew from $1890 million in 1990 to $11,600 million in 1997, the figure for 1998 was $10,930 million.

The bank says that this fall is due to some projects achieving completion. Therefore, the portfolio of active projects looks smaller. But these figures are still a tremendous improvement from 1986 when the World Bank had lent only $25 million for environment projects.