UK withdraws millions in funding from world’s second-largest rainforest in Congo
The UK government has withdrawn significant funding previously pledged for conservation efforts in the Congo basin rainforest. This decision follows broader cuts to the UK's international aid budget, raising concerns about the impact on global climate goals.
Why it matters
The reduction in funding for one of the world's largest carbon sinks threatens international environmental commitments and the stability of critical ecosystems.
The UK has abandoned projects worth tens of millions of pounds that were meant to help protect Congo rainforests and support local people.
Together, these initiatives would have made up around half of the £200m that the UK pledged to support conservation in the Congo basin – the world’s second-largest rainforest.
When it hosted COP26 in Glasgow, the UK led a new initiative to end forest loss, which included a collective pledge by 12 donors of “at least” $1.5bn (£1.1bn) for Congo rainforest nations by 2025.
Development minister Jenny Chapman revealed last week that, as of 2024, the UK had only provided £39.8m towards this goal.
Alongside the US and much of Europe, the UK has significantly cut its aid budget in recent years, leading to much of its Congo rainforest spending being cancelled or reappraised.
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