UK government not disclosing how UK aid aligns with Paris Agreement despite 2019 pledge

Today, Tuesday 18 July, the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) has published its annual follow-up review which assesses progress by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and other government departments in implementing recommendations from previous ICAI reviews published between July 2021 and July 2022.  

The report finds that the UK government is not yet reporting publicly on how UK aid spending aligns with the Paris Agreement treaty to limit global warming, a commitment made by Theresa May back in June 2019.  

In reaction to the report, Stephanie Draper, Chief Executive of Bond, the UK network for NGOs, said:  

Although the UK government has made progress against some of ICAI’s recent recommendations, including publishing a cross-departmental strategy on climate finance and committing to aligning UK aid with the Paris Agreement by 2023, this report reinforces concerns surrounding the UK’s commitment to addressing climate change globally. 

Despite making a promise four years ago, the government is still not being transparent about how UK aid aligns with the Paris Agreement and it is unclear whether the 2023 deadline will be met.  

Right now, millions of people globally are dealing with the impacts of climate change and the UK must play its part as a global partner to build climate resilience around the world.  The government must show it is taking climate change seriously and we look forward to a forward-looking plan on how they are aligning UK aid with the Paris Agreement, as well as a delivery plan for the five-year commitment of £11.6bn in climate finance.

ENDS.

Notes to editors

• The annual follow-up review from the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) looks back at the eight reviews published between July 2021 and July 2022, plus other outstanding areas of concern, assessing progress by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and other departments in implementing recommendations.

• Other key issues highlighted in the report include, value-for-money issues in the way support to refugees in the UK is provided by the aid budget and that FCDO had done little to support learning in departments less experienced at managing aid programmes.

• Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of nearly 400 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice. 

• The Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) works to improve the quality of UK development assistance through robust, independent scrutiny. 

• To receive a copy of the ICAI report, please contact Lizzie Palmer at [email protected] or 0788125408.

• For further information or interviews please contact Jess Salter at [email protected] or call 07392972411.