US VP Harris Pledges $3B Package for Green Climate Fund at COP28

In her address during the #COP28 Summit in Dubai, US Vice-President Kamala Harris pledged USD 3 billion to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) — the world’s largest climate fund — to help developing countries cope with the negative impact of #ClimateChange.

However, observers point out that before the strings of the US Treasury purse are loosened, the Congress must first approve the deal and it is not going to be a walk in the park. For that matter, it is worth recalling that former Republican President Trump once qualified #ClimateChange as ‘science fiction’.

On the other hand, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed the blame for the Global Food Crisis squarely on Climate Action, or the lack thereof. By some estimates, global food demand will need to ramp up by at least 50% from its current level by 2050. However, due to extreme weather patterns, crop yields may actually fall by as much as 30% instead, causing widespread food shortage.

Earlier on the opening day of COP28, the G7 countries agreed to contribute more than USD 475 million dollar for the Loss and Damage Fund (#LDF). US Climate Envoy and former US President John Kerry described the move as ‘a great way to start!’

As part of its continuing commitment towards #NetZero, the US has finally agreed to join the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA) with a view to phase out coal-fired power plants. Coal combustion is considered to be the single largest contributor to CO2 emissions around the world.