World Bank President David Malpass found himself in the international hot seat after botching his answer responding to allegations he’s a climate denier. During New York City’s Climate Week in September, Malpass dodged a New York Times reporter’s repeated questions regarding the human impact on climate change.

“Do you accept the scientific consensus that the manmade burning of fossil fuels is rapidly and dangerously warming the planet?” the moderator asked Malpass, several times pressing him to answer the question.

“I don’t even know, I’m not a scientist and that is not a question,” Malpass eventually answered.

The question was prompted by damning allegations made by former Vice President Al Gore against Malpass earlier in the day.

“We need to get a new head of the World Bank for God’s sake, this is ridiculous to have a climate denier as the head of the World Bank,” Gore said.

Pressure builds to resign

Malpass’ refusal to directly answer a question about the manmade impacts on climate change drew sharp rebuke from the U.S. Treasury Department and the White House.

“We expect the World Bank Group to be a global leader of climate ambition and the mobilization of significantly more climate finance for developing countries,” the Treasury Department said in a statement the next day. “We have – and will continue – to make that expectation clear to World Bank leadership. The World Bank must be a full partner in delivering on this global agenda.”

By the end of the week, the White House had chimed in.

“We disagree with the comments made by President Malpass. We expect the World Bank to be a global leader of climate ambition and mobilization as well,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “The Treasury Department, which oversees our engagement with international financial institutions, has and will continue to make that expectation clear to the World Bank leadership.”

The same day, Malpass made the media rounds, rejecting claims he is a climate denier and declaring he is not considering resigning over the incident.

“We are making a forceful leadership job by the World Bank on climate and so I think the unfortunate side was when asked, ‘Are you a climate denier?’, I should have said no,” Malpass told Politico.

Malpass and the World Bank’s role on climate

Former President Donald Trump appointed Malpass to head the World Bank in 2019. The U.S. is the World Bank’s largest shareholder and therefore nominates who leads it. Presidents serve 5-year terms, meaning Malpass is in the middle of his service.

The group’s mission is to reduce poverty by lending money to poorer nations. Funding climate investments in developing countries is one of the World Bank’s main pillars.