THE government will pledge to give Bangladesh £50 million to adapt to climate change but this is not enough warns a campaigning group tackling the causes of poverty.

The World Development Movement warns that if the UK pays countries to adapt to climate change, but fails to reduce the UK’s own carbon emissions, it will be the first of a century of multi-million pound cheques to Bangladesh.

Benedict Southworth, director of the World Development Movement said: "Most Bangladeshi people make no contribution to climate change, yet they are already suffering from increased flooding and the UK should help the country adapt to damage from emissions we have produced. But the UK government cannot continue to let emissions rise and think it can then pay the repair bill.

"We can’t just give money with one hand and increase our carbon emissions with the other. This will lead to the UK writing multi-million pound cheques for years to come as the world community struggles to relocation, re-house, clothe and feed the estimated 35 million people in Bangladesh who will probably have their homes flooded by 2050. We have to stop climate change getting far worse by radically reducing our carbon emissions."

She added: "The UK Department for Business wants seven new coal power stations but if built, these power stations alone would emit more carbon dioxide in a year than the whole of Bangladesh. Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander must match this financial commitment with political leadership and make the case in cabinet against new coal power stations in the UK."