UK Aid Cuts Are a Setback While Offering a Reset for Climate Priorities

The World Resources Institute describes the UK's reduction of its international climate finance budget to £6 billion over three years as a setback for the world's poorest, while suggesting the remaining funds be used to leverage private finance and support systemic change in vulnerable states.

• The UK government has reduced its overall aid budget from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027/28, resulting in substantial reductions in allocations for Africa and the Middle East.
• International climate funding is being cut by 13%, with the UK planning to spend approximately £6 billion over the next three years, compared to an average of £2.3 billion per year under the previous five-year arrangement. Additionally, a £3 billion earmark for nature has been removed.
• Despite the cuts, the World Resources Institute views the shift toward leveraging development banks, mobilizing private finance, and focusing on the most vulnerable countries and fragile states as welcome changes.

APA

Davey, E. (2026). UK Aid Cuts Are a Setback While Offering a Reset for Climate Priorities. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-uk-aid-cuts-are-setback-while-offering-reset-climate-priorities

Chicago

Davey, Edward. UK Aid Cuts Are a Setback While Offering a Reset for Climate Priorities. World Resources Institute, 2026. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-uk-aid-cuts-are-setback-while-offering-reset-climate-priorities.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Davey |first1=Edward |title=UK Aid Cuts Are a Setback While Offering a Reset for Climate Priorities |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=20 March 2026 |url=https://www.wri.org/news/statement-uk-aid-cuts-are-setback-while-offering-reset-climate-priorities |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{davey2026aid, author = {Davey, Edward}, title = {{UK Aid Cuts Are a Setback While Offering a Reset for Climate Priorities}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://www.wri.org/news/statement-uk-aid-cuts-are-setback-while-offering-reset-climate-priorities}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }