Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., is warning that next week’s climate talks in Paris will result in a deal that locks in slow economic growth in the United States for years to come.
Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Barrasso said goal of the talks is to get countries to reduce carbon emissions. But he said the Obama administration’s top negotiator, Todd Stern, said he’s willing to give developing countries a break from tough emission caps in order to let them keep up their economic growth.
Barrasso said Stern recently told the Senate that in those cases, “it’s pretty hard to say you’re supposed to slam on the brakes and go negative overnight.”
“Why should the U.S. accept a plan — and pay to grease the deal — that keeps its economy stuck at 2 percent growth while American taxpayers subsidize other countries’ economies growing at 9 percent?” Barrasso asked.
Barrasso warned that the Iran nuclear deal proved that Obama is a bad negotiator, and said there’s “good reason” to be nervous about concessions he might make on climate.
He also said Congress is still refusing to pay for Obama’s plan.
“Almost as bad is that President Obama will likely pledge $3 billion of taxpayers’ money to the U.N.’s Green Climate Fund,” he wrote. “Developing nations are eager to accept this cash, which in theory they will use to address the effects of extreme weather. It seems more likely that the money will end up in the pockets of government officials in Africa, Asia and elsewhere.”
“The envoys in Paris should understand: Congress does not support the president’s $3 billion promise,” he added. “Earlier this year Mr. Obama requested in his budget the first $500 million installment. That budget was voted down 98-1.”
