A new report indicates that UK-based banks have become Europe’s largest financial supporters of the global coal industry, providing $8.3bn (£6.2bn) in funding since the Cop26 summit in Glasgow in 2021. This figure surpasses the $4.9bn from German banks and $3.4bn from French banks over the same period.
The increase in funding from UK banks was primarily driven by Barclays and HSBC. Barclays' coal financing reportedly rose by 34% from approximately $1.2bn in 2022 to $1.6bn in 2025, while HSBC's more than doubled from $200m to $414m during the same timeframe.
The research, conducted by the Germany-based environmental and human rights organisation Urgewald, tracked loans and underwriting from 744 commercial banks globally. Urgewald's director, Heffa Schücking, stated that Barclays and HSBC should explain why their financing is moving in the opposite direction to the rest of Europe.
HSBC stated its commitment to phasing out financing for thermal coal-fired power and mining by 2030 in EU and OECD markets, and by 2040 elsewhere. A Barclays spokesperson said the bank finances an energy sector in transition and does not provide financing to companies generating over 30% of revenues from thermal coal mining or power generation.