More than 90 charities have signed an open letter to Rishi Sunak, demanding that he keeps his promise on climate finance.
The open letter, released today (7 July), calls on the prime minister to “urgently demonstrate” how the government’s commitment to provide £11.6bn in climate finance over five years from 2021 will be met.
It comes after the government’s own climate change committee published a damning and wide-ranging report, criticising ministers for missing their climate targets on almost every front.
Among the signatories are ActionAid UK, Christian Aid, WWF-UK, Global Action Plan, Global Justice Now, RSPB, Oxfam GB, Unicef UK, Water Aid, Greenpeace, Fairtrade Foundation, CARE International UK and Friends of the Earth.
The government has pledged for the UK economy to reach net zero by 2050.
“As 92 UK civil society organisations working across environment, international development, humanitarian response, inclusion and rights issues, we are writing to urge you to keep your promise to communities on the frontline of the climate crisis to provide £11.6bn in climate finance between 2021/22 and 2025/26 and to urgently demonstrate how this commitment will be met,” reads the letter.
The letter, organised by Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK), described climate finance as a “vital component” of the Paris Agreement, “without which limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5C will not be possible”, it said.
Earlier this week, The Guardian revealed a leaked memo given to the Foreign Office, which laid out reasons for dropping the UK’s part in meeting the global $100bn (£78.6bn) a year commitment to developing countries.
Catherine Pettengell, executive director of CAN-UK, said: “This government must not turn its back on countries and communities least responsible for the climate crisis but suffering its worst impacts.
“True leadership means taking responsibility for the UK’s historical emissions and the wealth that has generated and giving back fairly, to secure a better future for everyone.”
Katie White, executive director of advocacy and campaigns at WWF-UK, said: “Failure to invest in climate action now is the definition of a false economy.
“The future health of our planet should not come down to horse-trading between government departments but should be the driving purpose of all parts of government.”
White added: “We urgently need our leaders to recognise that nature is in crisis and to deliver on the nature and climate promises made to bring our world back to life.”
Sophie Rigg, head of policy and research, climate and humanitarian, at ActionAid UK, said: “That the prime minister is considering reneging on our climate finance commitment lays bare the UK’s lack of integrity and failure to act as a global leader on climate, just two years after hosting COP26.
“Sticking your head in the sand and willing climate change away is a deadly mistake. We must fight this crisis with finance and brave leadership.”