Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 84
84
Contributors told us, however, that the cuts to ODA reduce the scope for the UK...
Conclusion
Contributors told us, however, that the cuts to ODA reduce the scope for the UK to support vulnerable countries to address climate change alongside the impact of the covid-19 pandemic and high levels of public debt.175 We were also told that the aid cuts might damage the trust of climate-vulnerable countries.176 Cecília da Silva Bernardo told us that: Right now, somehow the UK’s leadership is lacking. […] For example, we did not hear from the UK a strong commitment on continued support and provision of funding to LDCs or to the most vulnerable. We also saw that there was a cut from 0.7% to 0.5% in development assistance from the UK. Those things that happened do not provide us with a good sense of confidence. I believe the UK is in a good position to change the way we are seeing it and really become the leader in this fight.177
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Government response: Partially agree As set out by the Prime Minister in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, and remaining a world leader in international development, are key priorities for the UK. The creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office supports this, integrating diplomacy and development to achieve greater impact and address the links between climate change and extreme poverty. Following the Spending Review, the FCDO’s business planning process will provide oversight of financial allocations on climate and biodiversity. Central teams meet regularly with regional FCDO climate teams to ensure that programme and strategy delivery are aligning across different geographies and central steers are provided to ensure a coherent approach is taken. There is already strong ministerial oversight for this policy area. The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith is Minister of State with responsibility for climate and environment (including adaptation and resilience). The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, was also appointed UK International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency in November 2020. In the run up to COP26 she engaged with counterparts from across the world and made several country visits, to hear from those at the frontline of climate change impacts. At COP26 she took part in a range of events and led the UK Government’s programme for Adaptation, Loss and Damage Day on 8 November. There are a number of initiatives that are building the capability of the FCDO’s network. For example, this year we held a virtual conference of several hundred civil servants working across the world from the climate, energy, and environment networks to enhance capability in these areas. Throughout 2021 there were weekly teach-in sessions on key COP26 topics for staff in the overseas network and in the UK, to ensure that all staff were equipped to engage with their host governments. These were complemented by sessions reflecting key events in the climate calendar, such as the release of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report: AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis in August and the release of the UK’s net-zero strategy.