UK committed nearly £2bn to fossil fuel projects abroad last year

Elevenfold rise in funding over 12 months came as support for renewables fell to 700,000

Britain increased support for fossil fuel projects overseas to almost 2bn last year, marking an elevenfold increase over the previous 12 months.

Backing for oil and gas operations in Oman, Kuwait, Brazil and other countries, amounted to more than a quarter of the total commitment by UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government agency responsible for promoting British exports with credit, guarantees, loans and insurance.