U.S. President Barack Obama is expected to pledge $3 billion to the global Green Climate Fund, set up in 2010 to help developing countries adapt to climate change and its impacts.
“It is in our national interest to help vulnerable countries build resilience to climate change,” said a White House official quoted in Politico. “More resilient communities are less likely to descend into instability or conflict in the aftermath of extreme climate events, needing more costly interventions to restore stability and rebuild.”
Congressional approval is another story, however. “I think it would be hard to get that authorized right now,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), likely chair of the appropriations subcommittee responsible for foreign operations.
The White House announcement “could help ease long-standing tensions between rich and poor countries heading into interim United Nations climate talks next month in Lima,” Restuccia writes.
