Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Although low-income countries are often disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and can...
Recommendation
Although low-income countries are often disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and can play a vital role in mitigation, they are mostly mitigating the emissions of other countries, including the UK. It is right that we invest in mitigation, in line with our own net-zero initiatives, but it should not be at the cost of vital aid programming. Given the reduced Official Development Assistance budget and pressure from other spending, the Government should carefully consider whether all current climate finance counted as ODA should continue to be categorised in that way, especially if such finance entails mitigation for emissions that low-income countries did not cause. We must ensure that climate finance does not just target the poorest countries, but that it is tailored to benefit the poorest communities within those countries. Listening to the perspectives and priorities of those on the front-line of the climate disaster, and ensuring that the modalities for accessing financing enable communities to adapt their lives and livelihoods, should be the new ‘business as usual’. (Paragraph 56) 54 Extreme poverty and the Sustainable Development Goals The UK’s role in reducing extreme poverty
Government response summary AI-generated
The government stated that all UK aid, including ICF spend, is reported in line with international rules on what constitutes ODA as defined and governed by OECD Development Assistance Committee.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
All UK aid, including ICF spend, is reported in line with international rules on what constitutes ODA as defined and governed by OECD Development Assistance Committee. The rules require that all ODA spend is administered with the promotion of economic development and welfare of developing countries as its main objective. All OECD DAC members, including the UK, must abide by these rules. It ensures that aid statistics are consistent and comparable across donors. By 2030, climate change and environmental degradation could push a further 100 million into poverty. Millions of people are increasingly exposed to food and water insecurity, but it is the poorest and most vulnerable who are hit first, hardest and who are least able to cope. As an important step forward, this year we are be able to present some disaggregated results for the first time in our International Climate Finance Results publication as we monitor how ICF programmes are reaching the most vulnerable. For example, we know that 86% of ICF beneficiaries were in rural locations, compared to 14% urban. We are continuing to improve our data systems to support better disaggregated data collection and are working towards increased coverage of disaggregated results, improving our data on sex, age, disability and geography.
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