UK aid’s international climate finance commitments
A review assessing UK aid’s commitments to international climate finance to support developing countries to adapt and respond to climate change.
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We have published a rapid review of UK aid’s commitment to international climate finance – funding that supports developing countries to adapt and respond to climate change. The government’s response was published in December 2024.
Summary
Climate change is one of the biggest international development challenges the world faces. Developing countries, which have historically contributed the least to the factors that have caused global warming, are most at risk from the effects of extreme temperatures and weather.
The UK has long championed increased funding, also known as international climate finance (ICF), to support developing countries to tackle and adapt to climate challenges. The government has committed to spend £11.6 billion in ICF in the five years to 2025-26, targeting four priority areas outlined in its 2023 ICF strategy: clean energy; nature for climate and people; adaptation and resilience; and sustainable cities, infrastructure and transport.
This rapid review will build on ICAI’s previous scrutiny of UK aid in relation to the climate and draw upon a range of sources, including analysis of financial data and relevant strategic documents and stakeholder consultation, to determine whether the government is on target to deliver what it has promised.
Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals relevant to this review are:
