Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Climate Finance Commitments

Tuesday 18 July 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department is committed to spending 11.6 billion on international climate finance over the original timeframe.
  • Allocations for aid for the next year are nearly double what they were in the current year.
  • The UK aims to publish detailed plans on how it will meet the 11.6 billion commitment in September.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Caroline Lucas Green
Climate
Context

The question arises from speculation and concerns in the national media about the UK reneging on its climate finance commitments.

Question

What recent steps has the Department taken to help meet the UK's international climate finance commitments?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

As the Prime Minister set out at COP27, we are committed to spending £11.6 billion on international climate finance over the timeframe originally envisaged.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The answer does not specify recent steps taken by the Department and avoids providing specific actions or timeline details.

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Q2 Caroline Lucas Green
Climate
Context

Concerns exist that the UK may be reneging on its climate finance commitments, with cross-party MPs and peers writing to the Prime Minister about this issue.

Question

Could the Minister explain when the £11.6 billion will be delivered in full, broken down by each year? Could he also explain how the commitment will be met and assure us that it will not be by raiding the aid budget?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

The allocations for aid for next year are nearly double what they were this year. We have a commitment to greater transparency and I expect to be able to publish in full how we will reach the £11.6 billion, probably in September.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify when each year's allocation will be published or provide assurances regarding raiding the aid budget.

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Q3 Karl McCartney Con
Climate
Context

The question seeks to compare the UK's commitment with that of other G7 and G20 nations, as well as historically before 2010.

Question

How do the UK's international climate finance commitments compare to other G7 and G20 countries or, historically, to before 2010?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

We are a global leader on these issues, as my hon. Friend knows, and we have set a lead. Part of that leadership is in respect of money. The UK has delivered extraordinarily on its commitments, including spending nearly £6 billion between 2016 and 2021.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide comparison with other G7/G20 countries or specific data before 2010.

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Q4 Drew Hendry SNP
Climate
Context

NASA has reported that June was the hottest month ever recorded, intensifying the effects of climate change.

Question

Will the Minister confirm at the Dispatch Box that they will double international climate finance as promised or is there a rumour about them reneging on this promise?

Answer from Andrew Mitchell

We are committed to tripling our adaptation finance from £500 million in 2019 to £1.5 billion by 2025. I hope he will wait, with admitted patience, until September when we will be able to set all these figures out.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm doubling of international climate finance as promised; instead mentioned tripling adaptation finance.

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