Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Sunday stated that he is going to write a check for $4.5 million in order to fulfill the U.S. financial commitment to the Paris climate accord.
“America made a commitment and as an American, if the government’s not going to do it, we all have a responsibility,” Bloomberg said during an interview on CBS. “I’m able to do it,” he continued. “So, yes, I’m going to send them a check for the monies that America had promised to the organization as though they got it from the federal government.”
When asked if he is planning to help fund the Paris climate agreement’s mission next year, Bloomberg said that he hopes President Donald Trump changes his mind on the accord by then.
“He’s been known to change his mind. That is true,” Bloomberg said. “But he should change his mind and say look, there really is a problem here. America is part of the problem. America is a big part of the solution and we should go in and help the world stop a potential disaster.”
The Paris agreement, of which the Obama administration was one of the founders, committed 195 countries to reduce their carbon emissions in an attempt to slow climate change.
However, Trump said last year that he would withdraw from that deal, which he has said places unfair conditions on the U.S. while it allows countries like China and India to expand their use of fossil fuels.
Bloomberg has been among the most vocal advocates for the Paris agreement. He and California Governor Jerry Brown are leading a coalition of U.S. states, cities, businesses and universities that have promised to meet America’s commitments under the agreement.
An overwhelming scientific consensus maintains that climate change, i.e. global warming, is due primarily to the human use of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the air.
Be the first to comment