Many UUs participated in the recent UUSJ Action Alert, asking President Biden, key Administration officials, and representatives in Congress to commit to funding this country’s fair share of the Green Climate Fund. UUSJ  joined other UU organizations, faith groups, and citizens in highlighting the United States’  moral responsibility to aid poorer countries suffering the effects of climate change as the most significant contributor to the climate crisis. The Fund helps poorer countries curb carbon emissions and adapt to the impact of climate change. 

On Earth Day (April 22), President Biden announced this country’s first-ever international climate finance plan. In the 13-page plan, the U.S. would double its climate financing to developing countries by 2024 relative to the second half of the Obama administration and triple its adaptation financing in the same timeframe.  But how does this measure up to the demands of UUSJ and our partners? 

The plan (only Congress can appropriate actual funds) represents a significant improvement from Obama-era funding and a substantial shift from the Trump Administration’s failure to support the Green Climate Fund. The Biden plan lacks specific numbers, but experts in touch with the State Department expect it would provide  — by 2024 — $5.7 billion for climate finance and $1.5 billion for climate adaptation annually. Together, this falls short of the $8 billion that UUSJ and many environmental groups were seeking. 

The Plan also directs foreign-aid and finance agencies to adopt climate strategies centered on investing in climate-friendly development, sustainable infrastructure, resilience, and adaptation. Notably, it commits the U.S. to end international financing of “carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy.” 

While there are things to like about the Plan, its projected funding levels trail — on a per-capita basis —  what some other countries have committed. UUSJ and others see the funding falling short of this country’s “fair share” in light of the fact that the US is the world’s most significant historical contributor to climate change. 

UUSJ will continue to monitor the actions of the Administration and Congress in implementing the plan and remind all players that the United States needs to do more to help developing countries shoulder the burdens of a problem that this country had a major role in creating.