Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of “wavering on climate commitments” after Labour refused to commit to the £11.6bn climate funding pledge made to the world’s poorest nations. The funding, a flagship promise from Cop26, is intended to protect vulnerable countries from the climate crisis.
According to a leaked document revealed by the Guardian, meeting the pledge is almost impossible under current spending plans without policy change or extra Treasury funding. If Labour wins the next election, it would need to spend £4.2bn in the 2025-26 cycle—83% of the Foreign Office aid budget—potentially forcing cuts to humanitarian aid and funding for Ukraine.
Spokespeople for Ed Miliband, Rachel Reeves, and Starmer himself declined to commit to the pledge. Sophie Rigg of ActionAid UK said: “It’s concerning to see both the government and the opposition wavering on their climate commitments… These are broken promises to the electorate as well as the rest of the world.”
Asad Rehman of War on Want called the stance “unethical and immoral,” noting that “for many in the world it’s a question of life or death.” James Meadway, former Treasury official, argued that cutting climate spending to reduce debt is not credible, as inaction would push UK debt to nearly 300% of GDP by century’s end.
The Liberal Democrats and Green Party have also criticised Labour’s position. Meanwhile, Tory peer Zac Goldsmith, who quit as a Foreign Office minister over Rishi Sunak’s “apathy” towards the environment, said the Prime Minister’s claim to meet the £11.6bn figure is “in effect a lie because the maths doesn’t add up.”
