The United Kingdom Government has affirmed its commitment to help vulnerable countries strengthen their resilience to the increasingly frequent and severe effects of climate change.

This was disclosed at the ongoing COP28 Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). 

According to a statement by the government, the International Development and Africa Minister, Andrew Mitchell announced £100 million to support some of the most climate-vulnerable countries to tackle climate change.

This, the statement added, will support an initiative to strengthen early warning systems in countries on the front line of climate change, giving people advanced warning of cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather so they can move away from danger, saving lives and protecting vulnerable communities.

It said the funding will also help make healthcare in the areas more resilient and able to withstand disasters, like floods, and ready to deal with spikes in infectious diseases, like cholera and malaria, due to floods caused by climate change.

While recognising the urgency of the situation, which forces 26 million into poverty every year, the UK government also joined calls for bolder collective action to protect the lives, health and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate change.

This, it said, supports the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, who announced major funding for climate projects and stressing the need for ambitious, innovative and pragmatic action.

Meanwhile, International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell, said: “The devastating effects of climate change hit the most vulnerable the hardest.

“These funding commitments will help countries and people be better prepared and protected against extreme weather events and natural disasters. They will help roll out measures such as early warning systems, and open up access to climate finance to build resilient health services.

“The UK will continue to press for a bold and ambitious approach to support those on the frontline of our changing climate, and to create a safer planet for us all.”

Mitchell, on behalf of the UK, then endorsed the ‘Getting Ahead of Disasters’ Charter, the ‘COP28 Declaration on Relief, Recovery and Peace’, and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’.