Obama administration officials admitted Thursday that their grand plans for a climate deal in Paris this year are in jeopardy because the Republican Congress has so far refused to provide any seed money for the venture.
The administration’s goal has been to build up a “green” climate fund at the United Nations. That fund has become a sticking point in the talks leading up to Paris, and some foreign leaders have warned that a global deal on climate change is in jeopardy because of lagging commitments from countries to the fund.
Supporters of the plan hope the fund would eventually secure payments of $100 billion a year to help the most vulnerable countries prepare for sea-level rise and other harmful effects of climate change.
The administration has made a $3 billion commitment, but in a call with reporters, White House officials say Congress has yet to appropriate that money. Officials acknowledged that they are still trying to negotiate with Congress over how to get the money.
President Barack Obama had requested $500 million in his fiscal 2016 budget request for the first installment of the $3 billion pledge. But Republicans so far are not budging on the request, and have vowed not to cough up the money for the administration’s climate deal.
Officials are expected to reiterate the $3 billion commitment in meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday. Administration officials said they are also talking to the Chinese on ways to pull together money for the green fund, but they also seemed to indicate that China may be having trouble pulling the money together as well.
One official said China’s commitment to the green fund would “not be an actual commitment,” and said that cryptic remark would be explained further on Friday.
The officials explained that the announcement will seek to harmonize U.S.-China commitments to the green climate fund, and ultimately “increase” the amount provided to poorer countries for climate change projects.
A joint statement by the countries on Friday will also include new cooperation on clean energy research and development. China will also announce its plans to launch a nationwide cap-and-trade program in 2017, one year later than it was originally expected to do so. The countries will also announce new plans to harmonize vehicle emission standards for heavy-duty big rig trucks.
