The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) has accused the UK Government of altering the methodologies for calculating international climate finance (ICF) targets in order to fulfill its £11.6bn pledge. This action has raised concerns regarding whether the actual amounts reaching countries in need will increase as a result.
The UK initially pledged £5.8bn in ICF by 2020-21 during COP15 in 2009, and subsequently raised this amount to at least £11.6bn over the following five years until 2025-26. This commitment is part of a larger collective promise from wealthy nations to deliver $100bn of annual climate finance to the Global South.
However, according to the ICAI, pressures on the UK’s aid budget in recent years due to humanitarian crises and conflicts have resulted in trade-offs with non-climate programmes. The Government has also been accused of changing the criteria for measuring additional climate finance for developing countries, allowing existing spending to be included towards the ICF target without delivering any additional support to recipient countries.
Furthermore, adjustments have been made in how the Government calculates climate finance, leading to a higher total. There is also concern that more UK aid funding is being allocated as loans rather than grants, which could add to debt pressures for the poorest and most vulnerable countries.
The ICAI’s report has made recommendations for the UK to improve its delivery of ICF commitments. This includes detailed plans to meet the £11.6bn target, transparency through annual reports, integration of gender considerations in programmes, and tracking the delivery of ICF to specific groups of countries, including small island developing states and least developed countries.
In response to the report, Caroline Lucas MP expressed concerns over the UK’s use of accounting methods and its commitment to international climate finance. She added that this could undermine trust in the UK as a climate leader and a country of its word. Similarly, ActionAid UK’s senior climate and resilience adviser, Zahra Hdidou, raised serious concerns about the UK’s role in global climate finance and urged the government to provide new and additional climate funds.
In conclusion, it is imperative for the UK Government to ensure that the methods for calculating and delivering international climate finance are transparent, accountable, and genuinely supportive of countries in need. Any changes to these methods should be carefully considered to maintain trust and uphold its commitment to fighting climate change on a global scale.
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