The UK is funding fossil fuel projects abroad by Ricardo Funari/Brazil Photos/LightRocket via Getty Images

The UK gave £4.6bn to overseas fossil fuel projects between 2010 and 2017, which campaigners say is incompatible with the country’s climate and development goals.

More than half of the support for energy projects abroad – provided in the form of overseas aid and lines of credit via the UK’s credit export agency – went on fossil fuels during the period. By comparison, just 17 per cent was spent on renewables, found an analysis by Catholic charity CAFOD and thinktank ODI.

“It’s a bit of a no-brainer if we want to get to net zero and keep below 1.5°C, we shouldn’t be using public money for fossil fuels,” says Sarah Wykes of CAFOD.


Despite the UK agreeing to the 2015 Paris climate change agreement and committing to the UN’s sustainable development goals in 2016, there is no clear downward trend in the funding. “It’s inconsistent to have fossil fuel funding when you have the climate goals and poverty reduction goals the UK has,” says Wykes.

The top recipient of the support was Brazil with £2.3bn over the period, followed by Ghana and Russia. Former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon has been calling to an end to the support for years, as have some British politicians. The UK’s Labour party has promised to shift credit export finance priorities away from fossil fuels and towards renewables.

Mary Creagh, Labour MPs and chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, told New Scientist: “When it comes to support for fossil fuel projects, the government’s action is undermining efforts to combat the climate emergency.”

There are signs that attitudes in government are changing. International development secretary Rory Stewart said earlier this month that he felt “very strongly” that his department should not be spending money on fossil fuels. However, it is unlikely Stewart will remain a minister should Boris Johnson be elected Conservative party leader on Tuesday, as is widely predicted.

A government spokesperson said: “As the prime minister announced at the G20 last month, in future we will look for the greenest way to deliver UK aid.”