The United States will contribute $17.5 million to a Climate Impact and Response Fund after reaching an agreement with other global leaders on Thursday at the COP28 conference in Dubai.
The deal was a historic one, reached on the first day of COP28 proceedings when many thought it could take the entire conference to agree on terms. Several countries contributed millions to the fund upon its adoption. Funds will be used to help the nations that are most impacted by the changing climate.
“We have delivered history today—the first time a decision has been adopted on day 1 of any COP,” COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber said, according to a report by CNN.
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Scientists and politicians alike continue to raise the alarm about the concerning impacts of global warming as more research reveals that climate change increases the severity of some natural disasters, ranging from floods and wildfires to hurricanes and drought. Some areas of the world are more at risk of suffering from the warming climate than others, and a recent study by Ipsos revealed that nearly four in 10 people—with much higher numbers reported in areas like Brazil, India and Turkey—believe they will lose their homes from impacts associated with the changing climate.
The U.S. was among the initial countries to donate to the new fund, although the $17.5 million pledge is dependent on Congress approval—a difficult feat given the state of the U.S. House, which recently elected a new speaker and has been riddled with infighting for months.
Newsweek reached out to the White House by email for comment.
The U.S. has been listed as a top contributor of carbon emissions, followed by the former Soviet Union and China, according to a report by Vox. The U.S. was criticized for its fund contribution during COP28, as it was far less of a commitment than contributions made by the United Arab Emirates, Germany and the United Kingdom, who pledged $100 million, $100 million and $75 million, respectively. Japan contributed $10 million.
Biden also faced criticism before the conference started after news broke that he wouldn’t be attending, opting to focus on stateside issues and the conflict between Israel and Hamas instead. John Kerry, U.S. special presidential envoy for climate, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were set to attend the conference, CNN reported.
COP28 will continue through December 12 and provides a space for world leaders and scientists to discuss the changing climate and strategize solutions. Following the climate impact fund vote, attention will now shift to the first-ever global stocktake, an assessment of how much progress has been made towards the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
The internationally binding treaty was ratified at the COP21 conference in 2015, with an agreement to limit global warming to a 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) rise by 2050, compared to pre-industrial levels.