Press Release: UK’s New Bus Fare Could Be Funded by International Climate Finance

Press Release: UK’s New Bus Fare Could Be Funded by International Climate Finance

Résumé du communiqué de presse

  • UK government changes to international climate finance in order to fund a short term cut to bus fares is a short sighted decision.
  • Climate change is a key driver behind the current cost of living crisis, and failing to help tackle it will just lead to costs later down the line for British consumers.
  • Cool Earth calls on the government to continue financing vital conservation and sustainability work including protecting rainforests.

How does replacing international climate finance to loans impact the UK?

Today the UK government announced that international climate finance will be converted to loans to fund the £2 bus-fare cap in 2027. This measure is a short-sighted decision that will lead to long-term devastation for our global climate, hitting countries already facing devastating climate impacts, and ultimately end up costing British people in every aspect of their daily life.

Tackling issues such as deforestation and extreme weather is an essential task, with the government previously stating climate volatility risks British security; research also shows it threatens the Économie britannique et la sécurité alimentaire. Between 2022 and 2023, ECIU found that climate impacts added an estimated £361 to the average household food bill.

What does the UK government need to do to protect the UK climate?

UK government commitments to help other countries protect rainforests, oceans, and sustain other key natural resources must remain steadfast. Fighting deforestation, rising global temperatures, and strengthening global greening efforts are essential to shoring up supply chains and limiting extreme weather here in Britain.

“Huge changes to climate funding for short-term travel relief will ultimately be more damaging for the British public, who are unable to afford a delay on climate action. The climate crisis is already putting a strain on UK household bills through food shortages driving up grocery prices and extreme weather boosting energy usage amid higher bills,” said Natalie Klepáčová, Policy and Advocacy Manager at Cool Earth. “Failing to tackle climate change is only going to be more costly for the British public and the rest of the planet.”

How should international climate finance be presented?

Cool Earth and other climate advocates have stated for several years that climate financing cannot come in the form of loans, piling economic pressure onto countries already struggling with debt. Saddling costs onto countries who are at the forefront of climate impacts — such as floods, droughts, extreme weather and other natural disasters — when they are not responsible for the majority of global emissions is an unfair action to take.

Tropenbos workshop with Cool Earth at COP30.
Tropenbos workshop on locally-led climate solutions and climate finance with Cool Earth at COP30. Photo credit: Natalie Klepáčová

Notes aux rédacteurs

Interviews available on request. Please contact: [email protected]

  • The most climate-vulnerable and least climate-resilient nations were the source of 13% of UK food imports, worth £8.9 billion, in 2025. – ECIU
  • Between 2022 and 2023, ECIU found that climate impacts added an estimated £361 to the average household food bill.
  • As a result, developing nations are paying back far more than they receive in adaptation funding, diverting precious resources from critical needs like santé et éducation. Adaptation finance relying on loans rather than grants risks locking low-income countries into cycles of debt, hindering their ability to invest in resilience against climate impacts.
  • Cool Earth is a climate charity, working to give unconditional money and data to Indigenous communities to help them fight climate change.