US Withdraws from UN Climate Damage Fund: What This Means for Global Climate Action

The United States has decided to step back from the board of a UN climate damage fund aimed at supporting poorer nations facing challenges from climate change. This decision was revealed in a letter obtained by Reuters.

This move is part of a broader trend under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has increasingly withdrawn from international climate initiatives. Since taking office in January, the administration has limited US scientists’ involvement in global climate assessments, cut funding for coal reduction efforts, and exited the Paris climate agreement.

At the recent COP28 UN climate summit in 2023, nearly 200 countries had agreed to create the “loss and damage” fund, marking a significant win for developing nations that have long sought help to combat the impacts of extreme weather.

Rebecca Lawlor, the US representative on the fund’s board, confirmed in a letter that both the US Board Member and the Alternate Board Member would resign, with no new representatives to fill those roles. The withdrawal took effect immediately.

The US Treasury Department has yet to comment on this decision. The climate damage fund operates under the World Bank, which is led by a president appointed by the United States. However, the letter did not clarify whether the US would continue its financial commitment to the fund.

As of January 23, wealthy nations had collectively pledged $741 million to the fund, with the United States promising $17.5 million. It remains unclear if the US will uphold this commitment.

This fund is set to begin financing projects this year, which will aid vulnerable countries grappling with severe consequences from climate phenomena like droughts and floods, making agricultural lands unusable.

Activist Harjeet Singh emphasized that the US withdrawal does not free the country from its responsibility to tackle climate damage. Singh, who leads the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, remarked that as the leading historical emitter of greenhouse gases, the United States has a significant role in the climate challenges faced by vulnerable communities worldwide.

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