Guest essay by Eric Worrall
Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is so upset that President Trump has cancelled payments to the UN Green Fund, he is sending his own money to the UN.
Mike Bloomberg doubles down to ensure America will fulfill the Paris Agreement
Today, Mike Bloomberg, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, announced a commitment of up to $15 million to support the operations of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Executive Secretariat, including its work to help countries implement their commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change. Bloomberg will also work with other governments and philanthropies that may be interested in supporting the UNFCCC at this critical time. The pledge aims to fill a significant funding gap that comes as a result of President Donald Trump’s announced withdrawal from the Paris agreement and proposed steep budget cuts for international programs, including on climate.
“Americans are not walking away from the Paris Climate Agreement,” said Bloomberg. “Just the opposite – we are forging ahead. Mayors, governors, and business leaders from both political parties are signing onto a statement of support that we will submit to the UN – and together, we will reach the emission reduction goals the U.S. made in Paris in 2015. As a sign of our commitment, Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with others, will make up the approximately $15 million in funding that the U.N.’s Climate Secretariat stands to lose from Washington. Americans will honor and fulfill the Paris Agreement by leading from the bottom up – and there isn’t anything Washington can do to stop us.”
Patricia Espinosa, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said “We are grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies for this generous contribution. While funding from governments remains central to our work, this kind of support is crucial for the work of the Secretariat to assist nations in their efforts to implement their commitments under the Paris Climate Change Agreement. In order to achieve Paris in full and deliver a low emissions, resilient and more secure future for every man, woman and child, it is very encouraging to see that all actors reaffirm their willingness to work together.”
Trump indicated the administration will terminate all support for UN climate change efforts. This would slash the US contribution to the operations of the UNFCCC – the climate negotiating body of the UN — creating an immediate gap. It will also cut previously promised funding for the Green Climate Fund, which provides billions of dollars in support for developing countries to meet their Paris Agreement commitments. The Green Climate Fund recently launched a request for proposals from private sector companies to cut emissions or improve climate resilience in developing countries, offering a total $500 million in funding overall.
From 2014 to 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies supported the UNFCCC – the climate negotiating body of the UN – for its work with “non-state actors” including cities, states and businesses. Bloomberg Philanthropies can fill the gap left by the US government backing out of its commitments. Support would be allocated to cover staff costs in Bonn, Germany associated with their climate negotiations and communications efforts.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies: Bloomberg Philanthropies works in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed over half a billion dollars. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter @BloombergDotOrg.
Media Contact:
Rebecca Carriero, rebeccac@bloomberg.org +1-212-205-0182
This move simply reinforces my perception of President Trump’s genius when it comes to getting a good deal for US taxpayers. There never was any need for the USA to put taxpayer’s money into the UN Green Fund – rich virtue signallers like Bloomberg are happy to pick up the tab.
Now if only Trump can persuade Bloomberg to pick up the tab for the USA’s entire UN contribution. Maybe we could define all UN contributions as “green money”.
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This won’t last long but if the Bloombergs of the world want to pick up the tab, this is free enterprise at work, too. Com’on Gates, Zuckerberg, Soros, Steyer, Rockefeller…. it is only fitting that you put your money where your mouth is. Just don’t claim it as a charitable donation or expense on your income tax.
I remember on geological survey work in Canada’s north boiling up tea from bogs. The bugs in the water began to swim faster and faster until they stopped and then the water boiled and the tea leaves thrown in dragged them down to the bottom. Bloomberg and friends will stop before the water gets too hot. The Clinton’s won’t join in at all in this Kumbayah. Nor will Sierra, Greenpeace, WWF, Fiends of the Earth….
Trump deserves full marks for this development. But what about the poor residents of states that will be forced to support the green fund and UNFCC? They too will put a stop to it at the next election. Indeed I would love to have the easy job of Trump’s campaign manager after the ground has been prepared by these jokers. It will be interesting elections around the world, too.
And what a bonus! We’ll have increased CO2, no calamity temperature rise and strawberries the size of cantaloupes.
Gary,
Did the bugs improve the flavor of the tea? 🙂
The tea wasn’t Earl Grey or some such. It probably added some tang. The water itself was already the color of tea
No heavy metals?
“…and there isn’t anything Washington can do to stop us.”
The unstated implication is that those opposed to wasting tax money, to accomplish little if anything, are working to destroy Earth and condemn the population to future hardships.
The reality is that those opposed to fossil fuel use are the ones who are insensitive to what happens to people when energy becomes much more expensive and money diverted from research and infrastructure maintenance is used to subsidize ‘renewable’ and ‘sustainable’ energy alternatives. It is those, for whom energy costs are a significant fraction of their income, who will be most unfavorably impacted, not the likes of Bloomberg or even Gore. Unscrupulous hypocrites all.
That’s a lot of green.
As Kermit the frog used to sing,” It isn’t easy being green. ” I may be singing this to entertain our green friends. http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=u+tube+Kermit+singing+It+isn%27t+easy+being+green&view=detail&mid=6F288C953D63D48C69236F288C953D63D48C6923&FORM=VIRE&PC=SMSM
Phffffftttt !! Lame virtue signalling progressive politicians……
“It’s Dead Jim!”
I was surprised to find that he had even pledged $15 million, but I’ll go him one better; a 2-for-1 match.
I pledge to contribute $2.00 for every $1.00 that all of the countries – U.S. excluded – contributed in 2016.
Oops! Previous article says the U.S. was the only one who paid. Never mind…
The human need for belief is astonishing. The Church of the Holy Klimat seems to be filling a void (left from rejecting organized religion?) in many otherwise pragmatic and effective people. You can see it in their eyes, you could see the beatific look in Obama’s eyes as he waxed on the subject. It is a look of mistaken mental peace that THIS at least is certain.
Unlike the screeds of most cult religions, climate is a measurable quantity. Ultimately, the truth or falsehood of the belief will be decided by science.
The science is hopelessly corrupted. It will be settled by the public once observation overcomes “The great lie”!
I think there are enough uncorrupted scientists to make sure the lie is exposed.
Time will show who was right, at the end. Beforehand, some common sense helps, not scaremongering scientists. Cancelling the Paris rip-off called accord is common sense, no more, no less.
Please don’t tar the many excellent scientists who frequent this site with the same brush. The enemy is not science, it is BAD science.
Totally agree on Paris. BTW, Trump needs our support. It is always lots of fun to rah rah with our compatriots, but more important to write our Congressmen; especially if they don’t want to hear it.
@gymnosperm
It is the scaremongers I am after, not the relaxed down-to earth guys.
He claims to have given $1.5B to Johns Hopkins. So glad he can commit his charity and partners to a whopping $15M towards stopping our alleged doom.
Bloomberg Philanthropies has an endowment over $4B. Likely just playing a shell game of moving $15M in climate change spending towards this and acting like it’s “new” spending.
Rockefeller Foundation is also over $4B. Gates Foundation is over $40B.
Let the spending begin.
Call in the clowns.
have to admit that Trump is a genius business man.
he carefully avoided treading on the science…. just dismissed the Paris accord as a burden on the USA…. which it is. Seems to me the US money would go, for example, to India who would spend it in Russia for nuclear deals….
the deal is no good because the US help is not coming back to the US industry…
I am just an outsider looking inside.
Obviously nuclear (H2O output) is no better than fossil fuel (CO2 output) but that is a different subject that nobody has properly thought through.
Not that I even believe in any made global warming.
obviously I am glad that many rich people and companies are happy to fund the Paris accord….
As long as this jackass is using his own money great. That’s the beautiful thing about free markets and freedom. Throw your money in the crapper if you so choose, just leave the rest of us out of it.
Mr. Bloomberg understands that the greening of Africa is catastrophic and must be stopped at any cost. He will contribute “approximately” fifteen million dollars from the bottom of his heart, via Bloomberg Philanthropy.
This contribution from Bloomberg has got to be “fake news”. No one could be this atupid!
Are Obama and Hillary Clinton contributing from their own pockets??
I hope that President Trump does not allow tax deductions for such nonsense
Compared to President Obama’s lift of $1 billion from the State Department without Congressional authorization for our first Green Climate Fund deposit, $15 million seems chump change.
Trying to bankrupt New York City as fast as possible…
Brings up a question.
Is Bloomburg giving his OWN money or NYC’s?
PS Ted Turner. Before he and Jane Fonda were divorced, he pledged a billion dollars (paid over time) to the UN. She said how proud she was of him.
Did he ever deliver?
(Honest question. I don’t know.)
Have a look here:
https://www.philanthropy.com/article/As-Ted-Turner-s-1-Billion/153601
Non Nomen,
Thanks.
I’m fine if he wants to piss his own money away on this.However if this is jsut being done as an incentive for those mayors and governors to start spending public money on the same thing, I would object because that it not their own money. It is the taxpayers. BTW $15M is pocket change to Bloomberg. Sounds like he just trying to get some press.
I think you’ve got it.
Even if Bloombreg is giving his personal cash, he’s just priming the pump for cities to give away their taxpayers’ cash.
PS Here in the US, a lot of big cities voted for Hillary while the rest of their state voted for Trump.
Those big cities collect income tax from those who work in the city even they don’t live in the city limits.
How much money would be available for them to go “PC” with if they could only collect taxes from those who actually lived in the city limits?
How many of would be in office if those who worked in but lived outside the city limits had the right to vote in that city’s elections?
15millions not enough to feed the UN fat pigs, can you spill out more?
His $15 million is really going to make a dent in the $3 billion per year Obama pledged to the green black hole.
Trillions of dollars in redistributive change profits at stake.
After Bloomberg makes his donation to the UN Climate Fund, I want to see his tax returns to see if he declared it is a charitable donation. To the best of my knowledge, that UN fund is not an approved IRS charitable institution
George Devries Klein, PhD, PG, FSA
Excellent news….and just in time for global cooling.
Useful idiot. And loaded to boot. Swampies’ dream sap.
Fill your boots, stupid. But hopefully Trump makes sure that none of what you give those clowns turns up as some kind of tax write off. Although I do think that the money could go to thousands of better causes.
179 comments and no one mentioned what the $15 million would be spent on:
“Bloomberg Philanthropies can fill the gap left by the US government backing out of its commitments. Support would be allocated to cover staff costs in Bonn, Germany associated with their climate negotiations and communications efforts.”
Staff costs.
Ah, the staff in Bonn is negotiating – probably with Trump. Such a successful effort is worth more than $15M.
They missed the most important key: affordable electricity
Isn’t The US a great country when people like Mr. Bloomberg can make extravagant public fools of themselves and be met with complete government indifference. Let’s hear it for individualism, wherein the stupidity doesn’t get forced on everyone else.
One can only hope to see Cher, Barbara Streisand, Leo DiCaprio, Nancy Pelosi, and Mr. Obama with his new-found wealth, all pitch in to really show their commitment, and compassion for the children.
Barri won’t be joining in, he just shoot his $8.1 million wad on a house in DC. Funny, that. Presidential salary of $400,000 over 8 years comes to $3,200,000. Wonder where the rest came from?