CAFOD: UK's support for dirty fossil fuels must end

Coal powered power station - Wiki image

2021 is a critical year for global cooperation on climate change and offers a golden opportunity for the UK Government to show leadership as hosts of the G7 meeting of the world's biggest economies and COP26.

Tomorrow's Integrated Review makes climate change the number one priority for the government's foreign policy. However, this government still must 'walk the walk' by stopping UK actions that contribute to the climate crisis.

UK support for dirty fossil fuels overseas in all its forms, must stop now. The Prime Minister announced a ban on fossil fuel finance in December 2020 pending a review, but new projects have been approved since that announcement and there is still no sign of a clear end date. All these new projects contribute to climate change and its impacts on thevulnerable, but hard-working communities across the world, working to transform their lives and risk seriously undermining the government's credibility at such a crucial time.

To be meaningful, the ban must ensure no loopholes or backdoor funding of any dirty fossil fuels, particularly through Government controlled organisations such as the CDC Group.

CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and part of Caritas International. Across the world we bring hope and compassion to poor communities, standing side by side with them to end poverty and injustice. Because we work through the local Church, we can reach people and places that others can't.