The UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) programme has been helping developing countries mitigate the impacts of climate change, reduce emissions, and address loss and damage. Newly published results highlight the transformational effect of ICF since 2011, ensuring access to clean energy and innovative technologies while supporting the world’s most vulnerable nations facing the worst climate crises.
Over the past 12 years, the UK has made notable contributions, including providing 82 million people with improved access to clean energy, reducing or avoiding 105 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions (equivalent to removing all UK cars from the roads for 19 months), and preventing the loss of 750,000 hectares of ecosystems.
Through UK aid, innovative climate solutions, such as energy efficiency and sustainable forestry, are being funded to demonstrate commercial viability across the Global South. The Climate Public Partnership (CP3) programme has successfully mobilised £86 million in private finance across 124 projects by investing in private equity funds like the £50 million Catalyst Fund.
In Madagascar and Indonesia, UK aid has helped protect and restore mangrove forests while improving the livelihoods of coastal communities. The Blue Forests Programme, in collaboration with governments, local communities, and the private sector, has protected 58,000 hectares of mangroves and saved 660,000 tonnes of CO2.
As the UK makes rapid progress in combating the climate crisis domestically—lifting the ban on onshore wind, securing enough renewable energy to power 11 million homes, and consenting 2GW of solar energy—it continues to push for accelerated global action. At COP29 in Baku, the UK will advocate for an ambitious new financial target to help developing nations address climate challenges.
Minister for International Development, Anneliese Dodds said, “International climate finance is at the heart of our climate and development objectives and our Mission to be a clean energy superpower. Our work – and the billions in private finance it has unlocked – will help the most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis and enable partners to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Our programmes are making a positive difference to people’s lives and helping to build a liveable planet for all, now and in the future.”
UK Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy said, “The UK has played a key role in supporting the most vulnerable communities across the globe in tackling climate change while alleviating poverty and improving access to cleaner energy sources. But there is more work to do, and unlocking greater global climate finance is crucial in addressing the needs of developing countries who are on the frontline of the crisis. That’s why the UK will be pushing for an ambitious finance goal for climate aid at COP29. We will continue to champion the voices of those most affected and we will lead from the front in speeding up the global transition to net zero.”
UK Minister for Nature Mary Creagh said, “We have a responsibility to tackle the biggest challenges facing our planet. This means putting nature loss and climate change at the forefront of the global agenda. We are seeing an unprecedented decline in species and the loss of some of the world’s richest and most diverse ecosystems. Our climate programmes play a vital role in protecting and restoring nature and supporting the communities most affected by this crisis.”
These results come ahead of the COP29 summit, where nations will negotiate a new financial target for supporting developing countries in their climate efforts. The UK has so far mobilized £7.8 billion in private finance for climate change and remains committed to its £11.6 billion ICF goal. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reaffirmed the UK’s leadership in international climate finance during his speech at the UN General Assembly.