Michael Bloomberg will write the UN a $4.5 million check to meet climate commitments

Michael Bloomberg, the three-term Mayor of New York City, will meet a $4.5 million shortfall in funding to the UN caused by President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.

In March, the US congress passed its spending bill for 2018 which provided only $3 million to fund the UN’s climate programs, down from its agreed $7.5 million.

Mr Bloomberg, who was recently appointed a Special Envoy for Climate Action to the UN Secretary-General, will make the contribution to the budget through his Bloomberg Philanthropies foundation.

In a statement, the foundation made clear its intention to make additional funds available if the US government failed to meet its financial obligations in 2019.

The money is used to fund the UN’s work in supporting developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change; promote climate action across society, and address institutional needs in areas such as IT and communications.

President Trump’s planned withdrawal from the landmark Paris Agreement last year has galvanised action in support of climate action. Mr Bloomberg and the Governor of California, Jerry Brown, launched America’s Pledge which unites US states, cities and businesses to continue meeting their obligations as part of the accord.

Mr Bloomberg said: “The US pledged to work with the rest of the world to fight climate change under the Paris Agreement, and that includes providing our fair share of the funding to help countries reach their goals.”

“Our foundation will uphold our promise to cover any cuts to UN climate funding by the Federal government – and the American people will uphold our end of the Paris Agreement, with or without Washington.”

Patricia Espinosa, the Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, responded: “I welcome this generous contribution from Bloomberg Philanthropies as an important, practical recognition of our need to work together, and to step up our response to climate change.”

“When countries adopted the historic Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise, they also recognized that achieving that goal would take broad-based global climate action in all sectors, public and private,” she added.

Photo Credit: Ralph Alswang

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