Cameron set to donate £650m to ‘green climate fund’
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 8:38 pmDavid Cameron is expected to allocate £650m to a global “green climate fund” this week, risking the wrath of some Conservative MPs and the UK Independence party.
Britain is expected to make the offer at a “pledging conference” in Berlin on Thursday, the same day as the Rochester and Strood by-election. Ukip, which is expected to win the contest, has campaigned against green energy and Britain’s overseas aid programme, while many Tory MPs share those objections.
It is understood that Britain’s contribution will be about £650m, in line with the $1bn offers being made by Germany and France.
The prime minister’s reluctance to set out the exact sum reflects his fear that the donation to the UN-backed fund will not play well in British domestic politics.
For example, the fund will help developing countries to build up their defences against floods, but Ukip will argue that Mr Cameron would be better off spending the money on Britain’s own defences, reminding people of the severe flooding last winter.
