Right on the heels of his historic climate agreement with China, President Barack Obama announced a pledge of $3 billion to the United Nations’ thus far underfunded Green Climate Fund. The fund was formally established in 2010 at the U.N. Climate Change conference in Cancun. The purpose of the fund was to redistribute resources between the developed world and the developing world in order to assist developing countries in their effort to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Right on the heels of his historic climate agreement with China, President Barack Obama announced a pledge of $3 billion to the United Nations’ thus far underfunded Green Climate Fund. The fund was formally established in 2010 at the U.N. Climate Change conference in Cancun. The purpose of the fund was to redistribute resources between the developed world and the developing world in order to assist developing countries in their effort to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
It’s clear that the president is doubling down on climate change, which shouldn’t be a surprise, since he has repeatedly highlighted his intention in his second term to take action by any means available. Recently, that has meant primarily by executive order, which, given the upcoming Republican control of Congress, will likely remain the only available avenue left to act on this crucial issue.
Republicans are already squawking. Intrepid denier Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) called it “part of a climate-change agenda that’s siphoned precious taxpayer dollars away from the real problems facing the American people.” Unsurprisingly, Inhofe, who despite his willful ignorance on the subject chairs the Environment and Public Works Committee, has vowed to fight the measure.
Some are already spinning the agreement the president made with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying that while we have committed to doubling our rate of reduction the Chinese don’t have to do anything until 2030. While that makes for a very catchy sound bite, it is highly misleading. The Chinese have committed to add no additional fossil fuels after 2030. If you bother to think about it, that means transforming an economy that is still growing at 7 percent, is heavily powered by fossil fuels (as ours was) and is adding one new coal plant a week, to one that will presumably keep growing — but will do so entirely powered by clean energy, bringing millions out of poverty.
Continue reading at ENN affiliate, Triple Pundit.
Climate image via Shutterstock.
