Written question asked by William Bain (Labour) on Monday, 16 May 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 May 2011. It was answered by Lord Barker of Battle (Conservative) on Wednesday, 18 May 2011 on behalf of the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

Climate Change: Developing Countries

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much of the Government's contribution of £1.5 billion to Fast Start finance for climate change from 2010 to 2012 will be provided as loans.

Answer: Of the £568 million Fast Start finance committed by the UK in 2010, £500 million was allocated to the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs), the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and the Congo Basin Forest Fund as a capital grant used to make highly concessional loans, and with a small proportion available as grants. £68 million was allocated as grants to the Global Environment Facility and to bilateral country programmes. There is an important role for both grants and loans in climate finance. Climate finance loans are offered on highly concessional terms and can maximise the total amounts of money available for developing countries.The UK's 2011 and 2012 Fast Start contributions will be drawn from the £2.9 billion International Climate Fund. We will report on this when it has been disbursed.

Secondary information