The UK has only succeeded in meeting a key international climate finance target through “questionable accounting”, new research claims – as climate-vulnerable countries look to pile new pressure on rich countries to stump up more cash at the upcoming Cop31 climate conference .

As part of its obligations under the Paris Agreement , the UK pledged to give at least £11.6 billion in international “climate finance” between 2021 and 2026.

Now, a new analysis from specialist climate publication Carbon Brief – shared exclusively with The Independent – reveals that around £2.1bn of the funds the UK counted towards this goal did not come from new spending.…