WASHINGTON: The World Bank indirectly invests part of its $18.8 billion staff pension fund in companies in industries such as coal and tobacco, holdings that clash with the development institution's own calls for ethical and low-carbon investing.

In an internal post to staff seen by Reuters, the World Bank's treasurer said around 40 percent of the fund's equity holdings are actively or passively invested against equity index funds, which include companies in industries associated with environmental and health problems.