Miliband to take UK seat at World Bank, prioritising climate and development
7 reported
UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will personally take up the country’s seat on the World Bank board, a position usually delegated to a junior minister, to signal that the climate crisis and overseas development are central to British foreign policy. Miliband, formerly energy and net zero secretary under Keir Starmer, stated that international development is not an add-on but central to UK foreign policy, and that taking the role sends an unambiguous signal of government seriousness on global leadership in development and climate. The announcement comes as fires devastate parts of France and Spain, Scotland called for military aid for a blaze in the Cairngorms, drought conditions in England and Wales prompted hosepipe bans, and a June heatwave cost European grain farmers an estimated €2bn in lost revenue. The move occurs after the World Bank, under pressure from the Trump administration, scrapped its goal for 45% of its finance to go to climate-related ends. Experts including Lord Stern and Mohamed Adow welcomed the decision, though Miliband faces a shrinking aid budget after Starmer cut overseas aid to 0.3% of gross national income and climate finance was reduced from £11.6bn a year in 2021 to £2bn in 2026. Prime Minister Andy Burnham was criticised for planning to fund a bus fare cap by changing international climate finance grants into repayable loans for the Tropical Forests Forever Facility. The UK will take over G20 leadership in November.
What’s reported
Ed Miliband will personally take the UK’s seat on the World Bank board, a role usually delegated to a junior minister.
Miliband said international development is central to British foreign policy and the move signals government seriousness on development and climate.
The World Bank scrapped its goal for 45% of its finance to be directed to climate-related ends after pressure from the Trump administration.
Starmer cut overseas aid to 0.3% of gross national income, down from 0.5% under the Conservatives and 0.7% under the last Labour government.
Climate finance was cut from £11.6bn a year in 2021 to £2bn in 2026.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham was criticised for planning to fund a £2 bus fare cap by changing international climate finance grants into repayable loans for the Tropical Forests Forever Facility.
The UK will take over G20 leadership in November.
Key figures
Ed Miliband, UK foreign secretary
Keir Starmer, former prime minister
Andy Burnham, UK prime minister
Lord Stern, professor of economics at the London School of Economics
Mohamed Adow, director of Power Shift Africa
Jonathan Hall, managing director of Conservation International UK
Rachel Kyte, UK climate envoy and former senior World Bank official
Sources: The Guardian
