Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has accused David Cameron of being less than honest in his offer of help for tackling climate change to developing countries. She said he was also “palming off responsibility” for tackling climate change and called on him to invest in renewable energy and home insulation in the UK.
Her comments came after the prime minister announced he would take £5.8 billion out of the UK’s overseas aid budget and give it to the International Climate Fund, which backs projects such as encouraging developing countries to adopt solar energy.
Bennett said:
"The announcement indicates that this money is being taken out of the existing aid budget. It's not new money, so existing programmes dealing with health, poverty and other essentials will suffer.
“This move smacks of hypocrisy, and will add insult to injury for the people losing their jobs due to the cuts in support for the UK renewables industry.
“Helping other countries to increase their investment in solar power is to be welcomed, but by doing so while actively endorsing the use of fracked gas at home, the government is palming off responsibility for tackling climate change to those least responsible for causing it.
“It’s time our prime minister faced up to the fact that we cannot fight climate change without slashing support for fossil fuels and investing in the renewable energy and home insulation that will cut our emissions and improve people’s lives.”