31 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced globally in the last nine years as a result of UK intervention, according to new climate finance data published today (19 August)
UK International Climate Finance (ICF) investments aim to reduce poverty by helping developing countries build resilience and manage the risks of climate change.
Developing countries are the hardest hit by climate change and the World Bank estimates that without intervention the impact of rising emissions could push an additional 100 million people into poverty by 2030.
In 2021 the UK will host the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, building on the success of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement to tackle climate change internationally.
The UK’s world-leading ICF investments demonstrate the Prime Minister’s commitment to helping the world build back better from coronavirus by preventing deforestation, investing in climate-resilient crops and implementing early warning systems for floods.
Since 2011, UK aid investment has:
- Provided 33 million people with improved access to clean energy, including connections to off-grid renewable energy sources, access to solar lanterns and clean cookstoves.
- Installed 2000 MW of clean energy capacity, equivalent to the capacity of 454 average-sized UK offshore wind turbines.
- Helped 66 million people to cope with the effects of climate change, for example by providing training on how to grow climate-resilient crops.
- Leveraged £2.2bn of private finance to fight climate change.
Committed to tackling climate change
International development secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said: “As the world starts to recover from coronavirus, we have a unique opportunity to help the poorest countries build back greener from this devastating pandemic and become more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
“UK aid is fighting climate change while lifting people out of poverty. As we prepare to host COP26, the UK will be pushing for international action to tackle these two challenges.
COP26 president and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma, said: “As hosts of COP26, the UK is committed to tackling climate change in a manner which leaves no one behind, especially countries that need urgent support.
“I am proud that our International Climate Finance scheme is part of this work, from protecting our precious forests to ensuring developing countries are supported through adaptation and resilience measures and assisted to transition to cleaner, greener energy.”
