A large international pledge made at the G20 summit has been met with questions as Britain struggles with the cost of living crisis.
Tory MPs have called into question a pledge of £1.62 billion to the Green Climate Fund, made by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during the G20 summit, in India last week.
The funding was pledged with the aim of assisting vulnerable regions in coping with the effects of climate change. Critics argue that this allocation of resources could have been better spent domestically, addressing issues such as special needs education, healthcare, and housing.
Funding Shift May Help China
He argued that this shift may contribute to developing countries seeking support from more authoritarian nations like China, which invest in infrastructure projects.
Speaking to the Epoch Times via email, Mr. Mackinlay said: “I have been concerned for some time about the shift of Western countries diverting aid money from humanitarian purposes to supporting climate initiatives instead.
“You could say it’s no wonder that many developing countries are falling into the arms of more authoritarian countries such as China, who have been supporting them with new infrastructure developments.”
He added: “We do need to start thinking much more strategically about where our aid is going; supporting real needs rather than preaching.”
Speaking to The Epoch Times by email, Romford MP Andrew Rosindell spoke of concerns that the prime minister’s pledge was not beneficial to the “taxpaying Briton,” or taking into account the current cost of living.
Mr. Rosindell said: “The country is facing record-level debt and a cost-of-living crisis of a generation, and there is little information regarding how these funds will be allocated.
Commitment Raises Questions
The UK’s commitment to the net-zero target by 2050 has raised concerns about energy security. Britain currently relies heavily on energy imports, including a £14 billion annual payment to Norway for gas.
