Obama can't cough up money for $100 billion climate fund

By John Siciliano, John Siciliano

Published December 20, 2015

The Obama administration doesn't appear to be on the same page as the United Nations when it comes to funding a $100 billion-per-year "green" climate fund to help developing countries cope with the effects of climate change.

U.N. officials on Tuesday wrapped up a final meeting before world leaders converge on Paris Nov. 30 to begin hashing out a final global deal on reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.N. said financing for the $100 billion annual fund was agreed to for the period that begins after 2020, when the fund is slated to be fully funded. But at a separate event, Secretary of State John Kerry said the administration's contributions to the green fund are in jeopardy.

"We are struggling to find $3 billion for the green climate fund," Kerry said, addressing Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va. The comments underscore Republican lawmakers' criticisms of the president's climate change agenda and their reluctance to appropriate money for the green fund.