Responding to reports that government is set to break its flagship £11.6bn climate and nature funding pledge for developing countries, which would mean around 83% of the official development assistance budget would need to be reallocated to climate to catch up, Gwen Hines, Save the Children CEO said:

“That the UK looks set to break its international climate finance commitments is not only a disappointment, but also a glaring testament to its disregard for global responsibilities.

“Its shortsighted decision to slash the aid budget has had disastrous consequences for children all over the world. Now it has created a false and unnecessary choice between prioritising aid and tackling the climate crisis.

“Despite proclaiming leadership in the fight against climate change, the UK is failing to live up to its rhetoric. Children in the world's poorest countries who bear the least responsibility for the climate crisis are suffering the most.

“It is shameful that the UK will not be able to provide the finance to help deal with a problem that it contributed to.

“The UK must urgently restore its aid budget to 0.7% of GNI and increase climate finance to uphold its commitments to children across the world.”

ENDS 

For more information, please contact:

media@savethechildren.org.uk / +44(0)7831 650409