The Independent Commission for Aid Impact expressed “serious concerns remain over whether the heavily backloaded spending plan can be delivered.” A UK aid watchdog criticized the government for not incorporating enough Agenda 2030 “gender-specific programming” in its £11.6 billion international climate finance commitment. The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) released a report warning that the government may struggle to fulfill its commitment to global climate action for developing countries and the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all U.N. member states in 2015, serves as a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet. The UK government remains committed to delivering £11.6 billion over a five-year period until 2025–2026, as pledged in 2019. However, the watchdog noted that the government has altered how it calculates the target and reevaluated existing aid programs to include as international climate finance (ICF).
The report highlighted that trust in UK climate leadership has decreased due to uncertainties about meeting the commitment and changes in measurement methods. The watchdog also voiced concerns regarding transparency in the new accounting system, making it challenging to hold the government accountable for its climate finance commitments. Despite the government’s financial contributions and investments in various projects, the report emphasized the need for more gender-specific programming in international climate finance to align with SDGs’ gender equality commitments.
ICAI underscored the relevance of several SDGs to its review, including Goal 7 on ensuring access to clean and affordable energy. The Chief Commissioner, Tamsyn Barton, expressed concerns about the shift in accounting methods and repurposing existing funds as international climate finance, potentially offering less additional assistance than initially promised. The review also addressed challenges arising from reduced foreign aid spending and the allocation of funds for asylum seekers and refugees, noting the importance of climate finance in assisting vulnerable countries adapt to global warming. The Epoch Times reached out to the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office for comment, with contributions from PA Media.