The International Climate Finance scheme has raised billions in investment and reduced carbon emissions by millions of tonnes

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The UK has raised £4.2bn in public and private funding, while reducing or avoiding 10.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions since 2016 through using International Climate Finance (ICF), it has been revealed.

Other outcomes include Britain providing 17 million people with improved access to clean energy and helping 47 million people to cope with the effects of climate change.

The ICF is a UK Government fund that aims to end international poverty by supporting investments that have lower carbon emissions such as clean energy – on which it has committed to spend at least £5.8bn between 2016 and 2021.

Minister of State for International Development Harriett Baldwin said: “Today’s (6 July) results show further progress in tackling climate change for the people around the world who are affected most by the devastating impact on their communities and livelihoods.

“Extreme climates cause devastating drought and hunger, and these results reflect the immense impact UK aid is having in supporting some of the world’s poorest and most fragile countries.

“At the same time, we are helping to make the world safer and cleaner, which benefits us all here in the UK.”

international climate finance
Minister of State for International Development, Harriett Baldwin

Continuing International Climate Finance efforts

The results published today build on the work done by the UK between 2011 and 2015, which included spending £3.87bn on climate activities.

The ICF supports a portfolio of investments managed by the Department for International Development, Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said: “The UK continues to demonstrate our leadership in dealing with global environmental issues.

“Climate change is a cross-cutting issue with inextricable links between forests, climate, people and ecosystem services.

These results demonstrate the importance of international climate finance and the impacts that we can have worldwide when we deliver this finance effectively.

“The UK will continue to support countries to protect the world’s most biodiverse forests and contribute to development that is sustainable.”