UK Minister commits to supporting green finance across Africa

Minister of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell has committed to supporting the delivery of green finance across Africa at the African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Egypt.

The Cabinet Minister gave a speech at the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh outlining the UK’s commitment to reforming the international financial system so that it can deliver the green finance needed to fight extreme poverty and tackle climate change.

“Countries across Africa are facing some of the most devastating impacts of climate change but historically have received only a small proportion of the green finance available.

“The UK is committed to changing that through our agenda to reform the International Financial System and support for the African Development Bank’s vital work.

The Minister last month set out his new vision for the UK’s international development work, saying the climate and development crises “are not a choice, but two sides of the same coin which need to be resolved together”.

The UK is a leading supporter of the African Development Bank and the largest overall donor to its fund for the poorest countries – the African Development Fund (ADF).

This includes the £200 million to the ADF Climate Action Window, a new mechanism set up to channel climate finance to help vulnerable countries adapt to the impacts of climate change.