How are MDBs and regional banks shifting their stance on nuclear financing?

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MDBs and regional banks have not been shown to shift after their ESG exclusion cut-off dates, while commercial banks in the region have increasingly opened green-financing channels for nuclear.

The ESG frameworks described here traditionally excluded nuclear energy, which kept the nuclear sector from accessing development financing from MDBs such as the World Bank until June 10, 2025, and from regional banks such as the Asian Development Bank until November 24, 2025. The material provides those cut-off timelines and then focuses on how commercial banks discussed nuclear financing during Climate Governance Summit 2024, rather than giving updated post-cut-off MDB or regional-bank policy positions.
The ESG exclusion timeline for MDB and regional banks
The nuclear sector was described as being excluded from development financing under ESG frameworks, including access to MDB financing from the World Bank until June 10, 2025. The same exclusion was described for regional banks, including the Asian Development Bank, until November 24, 2025. This exclusion discouraged financial institutions from financing nuclear projects and nuclear companies.
What banks said during Climate Governance Summit 2024 about nuclear financing
During a Climate Governance Summit 2024 Q&A, banks including CIMB, HSBC and UOB were asked whether they would finance nuclear power as a “clean energy” source alongside renewables. UOB’s CEO said the bank would align with government policy and that, at that time, there was no government policy to invest in nuclear power, so the bank had not considered financing the sector. CIMB’s CEO shared a similar view, while HSBC Malaysia’s CEO directed the question toward PETRA on nuclear power.
No specific post-cut-off update is provided for MDBs and regional banks
After stating the World Bank cut-off date of June 10, 2025 and the Asian Development Bank cut-off date of November 24, 2025, the material does not provide specific updates on whether MDBs or regional banks changed their nuclear eligibility or ESG criteria after those dates. Instead, it continues by discussing commercial-bank positions and later developments in ASEAN, including agreements and studies related to nuclear power.
Evidence of nuclear appearing in “green” financing, but mainly via commercial-bank examples
The text describes that sustainable financing for nuclear projects has appeared in markets such as green bonds and green loans, with the International Atomic Energy Agency highlighting that nuclear projects have attracted such financing in recent years. It also cites examples including Crédit Agricole CIB’s €1 billion bilateral green loan dedicated to the nuclear sector in November 2022, tied to the European Union’s green taxonomy, and later financing arrangements such as a green loan facility for the UAE’s Barakah plant. These examples demonstrate growing inclusion of nuclear within certain “green” financing frameworks, but they are presented through bank and deal cases rather than as updated MDB or regional-bank policy statements.

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How are MDBs and regional banks shifting their stance on nuclear financing?

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