Govt pledges £3bn to cut climate change in developing countries

The government has pledged £3bn to help developing countries tackle the issue of climate change, it has been announced.

This funding will be spent on foreign aid projects such as building wind turbines in Africa and making cattle farming greener in Colombia.

It will see each UK household contribute £116 to the projects over a four-year period ending in 2015, and according to climate change minister Greg Barker, the measures will help to save "British lives".

Mr Barker said that the measures are needed to prevent further "failed states" due to "dangerous climate change".

Britain is leading the way when it comes to tackling climate change abroad, it would appear, being the only developed nation that has so far publicly committed funds to the cause.

Mr Barker said: "If we turn our back on the developing world we will see more failed states, we will see countries struggling and failing to deal with the impact of dangerous climate change. And, ultimately, we pay the price in British lives."

This climate aid would include over £100 million pledged for renewable power generation in Africa, including wind farms, bio-energy, hydroelectric power and solar.

Meanwhile, £21 million would go towards better water resources management, which would improve conditions for 18 million of the world's poorest inhabitants.

The Colombian government, meanwhile, will receive £15 million to support 'low carbon agriculture,' in a bid to protect forests and improve conditions for farmers.

Liberal Democrat energy secretary Ed Davey said: "The problem is sometimes people look at the numbers rather than looking at the outcomes – the advantages of spending money in this way.

"Whether it’s bringing clean energy to Africa, whether it’s preventing the rainforest being chopped down in parts of  Latin America and Asia, these are huge benefits."