David Malpass, president of the World Bank Group, arrives for a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (not in picture) at Kishida's official residence in Tokyo, Japan September 13, 2022.
The president of the United States, the largest World Bank shareholder, traditionally nominates World Bank presidents, subject to confirmation by the bank's board.
Asked for comment on Malpass' Tuesday remarks, a spokesperson for Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said that the World Bank plays a crucial role in driving climate change action.
"(The) World Bank leadership must fully stand behind this global initiative," the spokesperson, Adrienne Vaupshas, said.
U.S. lawmaker Maxine Waters, head of the House of Representatives' financial services committee, said Malpass' comments call into question the World Bank's commitment to addressing climate change.