The Western Caucus joined in penning a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers and Ranking Member Nita Lowey to oppose fulfilling President Obama’s funding request for the United Nations’ Green Climate Fund.
A total of 110 members of the U.S. House signed the letter.
“Congress has never authorized funding for the Green Climate Fund,” the members wrote. “Yet on November 15, 2014, President Obama pledged an initial $3 billion during the G-20 meetings in Australia…”
In their letter, members noted that the “pledge and funding request comes before us while Congress must navigate serious budget constraints. For example, the United States already operates with more than $18 trillion in debt, which is projected to continue to rise.”
“This request from the President appears to be just the beginning of a commitment to the United Nations that could dwarf previous such climate commitments made by the United States government. The Green Climate Fund’s Executive Director recently stated that estimated funding needed by developing countries would increase to $450 billion per year after 2020. The United Nations’ top climate change official, Christiana Figueres, has described the current goal of $100 billion as “peanuts” and envisions trillions of dollars in spending over the next 15 years,” continues the members.
The members, “As stewards of taxpayer dollars,” wrote that “in light of our substantial budget priorities, we cannot support this request for funding for the Green Climate Fund, especially if the terms and conditions to pay such funds are not brought before Congress for approval as required by the U.S. Constitution.”