Definitions changing in UK’s bid to meet climate finance target

Andrew Mitchell, the development minister, said ‘clarifications’ would more accurately reflect spending

The UK is making a series of changes to definitions as a way to meet its target to spend £11.6bn over five years in the developing world to help combat the climate crisis, Andrew Mitchell, the development minister, has said.

Rich countries have long promised to provide finance – in the form of loans or cash – to help poor countries cut greenhouse gas emissions and cope with the impacts of the climate crisis. However, leaks in the summer showed UK ministers were warned they were massively off track to meet their targets and could only do so by raiding the aid budget.