In the last days of his presidency, Barack Obama has taken some last-minute steps to ensure that he will leave a lasting legacy to the American people and the world. The president commuted the prison sentences of Chelsea Manning, the whistleblower who leaked state secrets, and Oscar Lopez Rivera, a Puerto Rican political prisoner. Obama also added a second installment of $500 million to the Green Climate Fund.
What Is The Green Climate Fund?
The Green Climate Fund is an international organization that helps developing countries adopt and implement clean and environment-friendly technologies that counter climate change and reduce carbon emissions.
The promised funding was a highlight of the United Nations-led Paris climate deal. Developed countries have pledged to raise a total of $100 billion by 2020. Obama originally pledged to give $3 billion to help poor countries cope with the effects of climate change.
The president sent the first $500 million to the GCF in March, and transferred the second $500 million funding just three days before leaving office.
$500 Million Transferred From State Department
The money is being drawn from the State Department and will not have to go through congressional approval. Many Republicans on Capitol Hill have denounced the funding, saying that they would have preferred that the money be spent inside the country.
During a press briefing, John Kirby, spokesperson for the State Department, said that the GCF is "a critical tool that helps catalyze billions of dollars in public and private investment in countries dealing not only with the challenges of climate change, but the immense economic opportunities that are embedded in the transition to a lower carbon economy."
.@statedeptspox: U.S. announcing additional grant to Green Climate Fund pic.twitter.com/QLy6rFd7vi
— Department of State (@StateDept) January 17, 2017
The U.S. is "pleased to have played a leading role in the establishment of the GCF and we are also pleased to be making this significant grant," Kirby added.
A reporter asked Kirby if the second funds transfer was "in the spirit of a smooth transition," given how Trump has repeatedly questioned Obama's pledge. Kirby replied that the last-hour funding was "not being done to try to provoke a reaction from the incoming administration or to try to dictate to them, one way or the other, how they are going to deal with climate issues."
Trump On Climate Change
Trump is a known skeptic of climate change and has called the phenomenon a Chinese hoax. It is possible that the Trump administration won't push through with the rest of the U.S. pledge, given the Republicans' resistance to the initial funding. Trump also made a promise while on the campaign trail to renege on the U.S. commitment to the Paris climate agreement.
