Some [[NGO]]s have criticized the EBRD for financing projects they consider to be environmentally and socially harmful. Although it has increased its investments intoin [[Energy conservation|energy efficiency]] and [[sustainable energy]] in recent years, thesethe NGOs considersay the bank continues to diminishdiminishes the impacts of green investments by financing [[Emission intensity|carbon-intensive]] development such as coal, oil, and gas production, transportation, and generation, motorways, airports, fast food, and airportsanimal agriculture.<ref name="bankwatch.org">{{Cite web |title=European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) |url=https://bankwatch.org/ebrd |access-date=29 March 2022 |website=Bankwatch |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 August 2006 |title=The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development: An Environmental Progress Report |url=http://www.ciel.org/Publications/summary1.html |access-date=29 March 2022 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060825144737/http://www.ciel.org/Publications/summary1.html |archive-date=25 August 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Among the contested projects are the [[Ombla#Proposed power plant|Ombla power plant]] in [[Croatia]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gavas |first=Mikaela |date=27 June 2014 |title=Reviewing the evidence: how well does the European Development Fund perform? |url=https://odi.org/en/publications/reviewing-the-evidence-how-well-does-the-european-development-fund-perform/ |access-date=29 March 2022 |website=ODI: Think change |language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 July 2013 |title=HEP and EBRD cancel loan agreement for Ombla power plant – Daily – tp… |url=http://daily.tportal.hr/264455/HEP-and-EBRD-cancel-loan-agreement-for-Ombla-power-plant.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130710131356/http://daily.tportal.hr/264455/HEP-and-EBRD-cancel-loan-agreement-for-Ombla-power-plant.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 July 2013 |access-date=29 March 2022 |website=archive.ph}}</ref> the [[Kumtor Gold Mine]] in [[Kyrgyzstan]], and the [[Šoštanj#Power station|Šoštanj]] [[lignite]] power plant in [[Slovenia]].<ref name="bankwatch.org"/>
In 2025, the EBRD considered investing €40 million to expand [[Burger King]] and [[Popeyes]] locations across Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic, but cancelled the plan following opposition by [[environmental movement|environmental]] and [[animal welfare]] activists.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dumitrescu |first1=Radu |title=EBRD backs Burger King expansion in Romania and the region with EUR 40 mln |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/ebrd-backs-burger-king-expansion-jun-2024 |access-date=1 August 2025 |work=Romania Insider |date=16 June 2025 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250716170449/https://www.romania-insider.com/ebrd-backs-burger-king-expansion-jun-2024 |archive-date=16 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=EBRD Cancels €40M Burger King Investment After S3F Member Pushback |url=https://stopfinancingfactoryfarming.com/ebrd-cancels-e40m-burger-king-investment-after-s3f-member-pushback/ |website=Stop Financing Factory Farming |access-date=1 August 2025 |date=17 July 2025}}</ref>
