UK urged to take lead in helping poor countries fund climate action

UN development chief says access to finance is vital if upcoming Cop26 climate talks are to be a success

Boris Johnson's government must take the lead in giving poor countries access to the finance they need to tackle the climate crisis, to make vital climate talks a success, the UN's development chief has said.

Ministers from around the world will meet virtually this week at a conference hosted by the UK to discuss the needs of developing nations struggling to cut their greenhouse gas emissions, as their economies have been left reeling by the Covid pandemic.