Climate change, development and COP26

International Development Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 21 Apr 2021 Closed: 14 Jan 2022 Parliament page
Report and Government response published The International Development Committee launched an inquiry examining, ahead of COP26 in November, the progress the Government has made putting climate change at the centre of aid policy. The House Commons International Development Committee has called on the government to concentrate its international aid programmes … Read more
19 Recommendations
78 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 6 events
14 Jan
2022
Report published
17 Nov
2021
Correspondence
26 Oct
2021
Report published
20 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
6 Jul
2021
Oral evidence
22 Jun
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
20 Jul 2021
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Climate change, development and COP 26
Colin Buckley · CDC Group Dario Kenner · Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) Dr Amal-Lee Amin · CDC Group The Rt Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Vel Gnanendran · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
6 Jul 2021
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Climate change, development and COP 26
Eileen Mareina Cunningham, Active Observer representing the Civil Society, Indigenous Peoples and Local Community Network at the Green Climate Fund & Head of the Secretariat, Researcher and Advocacy Officer on Climate Finance, Indigenous Peoples Terr Gebru Jember, Representative of the Least Developed Countries Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) & Regional Lead for Climate Diplomacy and Measurement, Reporting and Verification at the Africa Office of the Global Green Grow Laurie Lee · CARE International UK Marek Soanes · International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Ms Catherine Pettengell · Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK) Nick Mabey · E3G
22 Jun 2021
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Climate change, development and COP26
Cecília da Silva Bernardo · Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Environment of the Republic of Angola Dr Alessandra Sgobbi · European Commission Dr Lisa Schipper · The Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford H.E. Ms Diann Black-Layne, Ambassador for Climate Change – Antigua and Barbuda and Lead Negotiator on Climate Change of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Julius Ng’oma · Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) Suranjana Gupta · Huairou Commission
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Global Britain in demand: UK climate action and … HC 99 26 Oct 2021 97 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
16 results
Clear
2 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We are concerned about the extent to which the priorities and knowledge of marginalised groups...
We are concerned about the extent to which the priorities and knowledge of marginalised groups are factored into measures tackling climate change. Ensuring that the voices of the most marginalised, local communities are fully taken on board will improve the … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, announcing £45 million in new support for The Community Resilience Partnership Program (CRPP) to fund projects empowering local communities and women's groups in locally-led adaptation. They also cite events at COP26 designed to amplify the voices of marginalised groups, but do not explicitly present a pathway for applying the Principles for Locally-Led Adaptation by the requested date.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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4 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
Access to climate finance remains a significant challenge for LDCs, SIDS and grassroots organisations.
Access to climate finance remains a significant challenge for LDCs, SIDS and grassroots organisations. For Global Britain to be a credible “force for good”, we urge the Government to use its COP presidency and position as a key donor to … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees, establishing the UK/Fiji co-chaired Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance with £100m commitment to transform access. While supporting streamlined accreditation, it reports that agreement on an enhanced Simplified Approvals Process at the GCF Board was not reached in 2021 and will be pursued in 2022, and a specific publication date for the International Climate Finance strategy is not provided.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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5 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We believe that the current level of international climate finance is fundamentally over-reported, reducing the...
We believe that the current level of international climate finance is fundamentally over-reported, reducing the credibility of declarations and scope for achieving climate adaptation and resilience. We are calling for full transparency in the reporting of climate finance to enhance … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, emphasizing its commitment to robust climate finance reporting and transparency through existing mechanisms like the Development Tracker and UNFCCC reporting. It will encourage other donors to be transparent and notes the Enhanced Transparency Framework finalized at COP26, but does not commit to reporting specifically on local-level finance or hosting meetings to define terms.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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6 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We are concerned about the broad list of exemptions in the Government’s new fossil fuel...
We are concerned about the broad list of exemptions in the Government’s new fossil fuel policy as it raises questions about the UK’s credibility as a “force for good” and its commitment to net zero. We therefore urge the Government … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, stating that BII already publishes investment details and its energy portfolio, and plans to repeat this. While BII does not intend to offload emissions, it will actively support companies to adapt and is developing a carbon budget to achieve net-zero by 2050, which will be shared with the Committee.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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7 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We understand the call of many contributors to create a separate funding stream for loss...
We understand the call of many contributors to create a separate funding stream for loss and damage from climate events, such as from sea-level rise, and acknowledge the challenges in accomplishing this at this time. Nonetheless, we urge the Government … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, highlighting the prominence of Adaptation, Loss and Damage at COP26 and its commitment to take forward related measures through the Climate and Development Pathway. It details progress on workstreams like establishing the Taskforce on Access to Finance, but does not explicitly commit to the specific operationalisation and funding deadline for the Santiago Network.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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18 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
Vel Gnanendran, Head of the Climate and Environment Directorate (CED) at the FCDO, added that...
Vel Gnanendran, Head of the Climate and Environment Directorate (CED) at the FCDO, added that the Department followed a “do no harm” principle and that “every business case has to have a gender equality assessment, and social development advisers are … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, recognising the importance of indigenous and local community leadership in climate solutions and committing £45 million to the Community Resilience Partnership Program and new support for Congo Basin forest protection involving indigenous peoples.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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19 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
Nature-based Solutions are: actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that...
Nature-based Solutions are: actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.39
Government Response
The government partially agrees with the concept, outlining initiatives like the Glasgow Leaders Declaration and new funding for community-led adaptation and indigenous peoples' forest protection, which align with the principles of Nature-based Solutions.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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21 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
The Institute of Development Studies stated that NbS are neither a “silver bullet” nor a...
The Institute of Development Studies stated that NbS are neither a “silver bullet” nor a substitute for phasing out fossil fuels and warned against the expansion of tree planting to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere instead of the protection … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the fundamental importance of indigenous and local community leadership, knowledge, and rights in developing effective, rights- and nature-based climate solutions. It highlights the Glasgow Leaders Declaration and new funding for the Community Resilience Partnership Program to empower local communities, which implicitly addresses the committee's warning against 'technical fixes' and potential resource grabs.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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25 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We are concerned about the extent to which the priorities and knowledge of marginalised groups...
We are concerned about the extent to which the priorities and knowledge of marginalised groups are factored into measures tackling climate change. Ensuring that the voices of the most marginalised, local communities are fully taken on board will improve the … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, recognizing the importance of locally-led adaptation and detailing significant commitments like £300 million for the IPLC Forest Tenure Facility and £45 million for the Community Resilience Partnership Program to empower local communities. However, it does not explicitly commit to presenting a specific pathway for application and promotion by the requested 31 January 2022 deadline, instead highlighting ongoing initiatives.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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51 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
Access to climate finance remains a significant challenge for LDCs, SIDS and grassroots organisations.
Access to climate finance remains a significant challenge for LDCs, SIDS and grassroots organisations. For Global Britain to be a credible “force for good”, we urge the Government to use its COP presidency and position as a key donor to … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees, outlining the creation of the UK/Fiji co-chaired Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance, committing £100m to support a new approach. They are also championing an enhanced Simplified Approvals Process at the Green Climate Fund Board to improve LDC and SIDS' access, but do not provide a date for publishing their International Climate Finance strategy.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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52 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
Despite its omnipresence in climate negotiations, there is no officially agreed definition of climate finance.110...
Despite its omnipresence in climate negotiations, there is no officially agreed definition of climate finance.110 In November 2020, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported that the level of climate finance was US$78.9 billion in 2018.111 Yet, the … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, acknowledging the need for transparency and predictability in climate finance. They outline initiatives like the DAC declaration to improve statistical reporting and data compatibility by the end of 2022, and the UNFCCC's Enhanced Transparency Framework for reporting by December 2024, to bring greater clarity to climate finance flows.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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54 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We heard that another challenge was the different interpretation of the term ‘new and additional’.
We heard that another challenge was the different interpretation of the term ‘new and additional’. At COP15 in Copenhagen (2009), high-income countries agreed to provide new and additional funding “approaching US$30 billion” for 2010–2012 for climate adaptation and mitigation.116 Although … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agreed with the concern about clarity on 'new and additional' funding, outlining actions to improve overall transparency and predictability of climate finance. These include commitments from DAC members by end of 2022 to enhance tracking, statistical reporting, data compatibility, and CRS harmonisation, alongside the UK's Development Tracker updates and the Enhanced Transparency Framework.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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55 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
In its biennial progress report (December 2020), the Government stated that: Our funding will be...
In its biennial progress report (December 2020), the Government stated that: Our funding will be new and in addition to our previous £5.8 billion ICF commitment.118 Many contributors criticised this statement for its interpretation of ‘new and additional’.119 The NGOs … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focused on improving overall transparency and predictability of climate finance flows. It detailed commitments from DAC members to enhance tracking and reporting by end of 2022, including the UK's Development Tracker updates and the Enhanced Transparency Framework, which addresses aspects of the 'new and additional' debate.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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62 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We believe that the current level of ICF is fundamentally over-reported, reducing the credibility of...
We believe that the current level of ICF is fundamentally over-reported, reducing the credibility of declarations and scope for achieving climate adaptation and resilience. We are calling for full transparency in the reporting of climate finance to enhance the ability … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the need for transparency and states its commitment to a robust reporting approach, including adding an ICF tag to its Development Tracker website to identify climate finance programmes and provide country-level information. It will also continue to encourage other donors and highlights the Enhanced Transparency Framework agreed at COP26.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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74 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We are concerned about the broad list of exemptions in the Government’s new fossil fuel...
We are concerned about the broad list of exemptions in the Government’s new fossil fuel policy as it raises questions about the UK’s credibility as a “force for good” and its commitment to net zero. We therefore urge the Government … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, detailing existing efforts like the Energy Transition Council and BII's transparency on investments via its website and TCFD reporting. It states BII is developing a carbon budget for net-zero by 2050 and will share it in due course, but does not commit to ending all fossil fuel exemptions or publishing a specific divestment plan by the requested deadline.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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91 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Second Report - Global Britain in …
We welcome the Government holding a Climate and Development Ministerial meeting in March 2021 to...
We welcome the Government holding a Climate and Development Ministerial meeting in March 2021 to capture the concerns of climate-vulnerable countries in the run-up to COP26. We recommend that the FCDO hosts a Climate and Development Ministerial with climate-vulnerable countries … Read more
Government Response
The government partially agrees, highlighting its COP26 Presidency's focus on Adaptation, Loss and Damage and the creation of the Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance, but does not explicitly commit to an annual Climate and Development Ministerial meeting.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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Government Response AI assessment · 94 of 19 classified
Accepted 59
Accepted in Part 16
Acknowledged 11
Not Addressed 5
Rejected 3
Total 19 recs + 78 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
17 Nov 2021 From committee Letter to the Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, COP 26 President regarding the International Development Committee report on Global Britain in demand: UK climate action and international development around COP26 and survey on UK climate action - 16 November 2021
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