UK to cut climate finance to poor countries by a fifth despite promising more help

Exclusive: Campaigners say proposed cut from 11.9bn over past five years to 9bn over next five years will cost lives and livelihoods

The UK plans to slash its aid to poor countries stricken by the climate crisis by more than a fifth, the Guardian has learned, despite promises to increase assistance and warnings from campaigners that the move will cost lives and livelihoods.

Ministers plan to cut climate finance for the developing world from 11.6bn over the past five years to 9bn in the next five. In real terms, accounting for inflation, this would represent a cut of about 40% in spending power since 2021, when the 11.6bn budget was agreed.