Senate panel backs UN climate fund spending

OREANDA-NEWS. July 01, 2016. A US Senate committee yesterday approved a \\$500mn contribution to a UN program intended to help developing countries address climate change.

The Senate Appropriations Committee passed a fiscal 2017 spending bill for the State Department and other agencies that includes money for the UN's Green Climate Fund (GCF), overcoming Republican opposition to the spending.

The original version of the bill prohibited US funding of the program, but the committee by voice vote approved an amendment from senators Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) and Mark Kirk (R-Illinois). It was also co-sponsored by senator Susan Collins (R-Maine).

"It is our moral obligation to work with our international partners to reduce greenhouse gases and cut carbon pollution. The Green Climate Fund is crucial to this effort," Merkley said.

The fund, a key component of the UN climate agreement reached in Paris last year, will support efforts by developing nations to reduce GHG emissions and adapt to climate change. Developed countries have said they will contribute \\$100bn/yr to the fund by 2020, using a mix of public and private money. The US administration has pledged \\$3bn and has contributed \\$500mn so far. President Barack Obama requested \\$750mn in his 2017 budget plan, some of which would come from the Treasury Department.

A number of Republicans oppose the funding on policy and fiscal grounds, calling it a waste of government money. Many are also upset with the administration's "unilateral" move to shift, or reprogram, \\$500mn within the State Department's fiscal year 2016 budget to support the GCF, following last year's budget deal, which did not include any prohibition on the spending.

It may be difficult for Republicans to strip the funding when the Senate votes on the bill, given the modest bipartisan support it enjoys. Any changes would likely require 60 votes for approval.

But the House version of the State Department bill includes a prohibition on the funding. A subcommittee of House Appropriations Committee is scheduled to vote on the bill next week.