UK pledges £270bn to tackle climate change overseas

Up to £270 million will be ploughed into helping developing countries start to tackle global warning, the UK government vowed today.

The money will go into the Green Climate Fund, joining other major global economies in paying to help poorer nations learn how to limit and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

A total of 13 countries have already signed up to the fund, with contributions now totalling around $9 billion (around £5bn). A third of that has been pledged by the US.

The UK’s contribution comes from a pre-existing budget earmarked for helping tackle international climate change.