The Independent View: Senate Panel Approves Funding for UN Climate Body

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Passed a Spending Bill that includes $10 Million to Help Fund the United Nations' Climate Change Body that oversees the Paris Climate Agreement, despite President Trump's Decision to Stop Funding it.

The 30-Member Senate Panel, which allocates Federal Funds to various Government Agencies and Organizations, Approved a $51 Billion Spending Bill for the State Department and Foreign Operations, which included an Amendment to continue Funding the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well as the Scientific Body the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The Amendment Passed even though the 2018 Budget Proposal that Trump introduced earlier this year Eliminated Support of any Mechanism to Finance Climate Change Projects in Developing Countries and Organizations. The United States is still a Party to the 1992 UNFCCC, which Oversees the Paris Agreement, although Trump announced in June that he would Withdraw the Nation from the Global Climate Pact and Cease Funding the Green Climate Fund, which Supports Clean Energy and Climate Adaptation Projects in Vulnerable Countries.

The United States has usually Contributed to around 20% of the UNFCCC Budget.

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the Amendment's Author, said: "Despite @RealDonaldTrump’s dangerous #ParisAgreement decision & unwillingness to act, we can & will fight back to combat #climatedisruption."

The Amendment passed 16-14. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) Voted in favor, as did all Committee Democrats except Joe Manchin (D-WV).

Although the United States announced it would No Longer be a Party to the Paris Climate Agreement, a Pact that nearly 200 Countries Approved in 2015 to Combat global Warming, it has said it will continue to Observe the ongoing Negotiations. But many States have Declared to maintain, at different levels, the Climate Pact Agreements.

In a Diplomatic Cable, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said U.S. Diplomats should Sidestep Questions from Foreign Governments on how the United States Plans Re-Engage in the Global Paris Climate Agreement. The Cable also said Diplomats should make clear that the United States wants to Help other Countries use Fossil Fuels, which have been Linked to Global Warming.