Representative Adriano Espaillat in Harlem released the following statement on his bill, the Green Climate Fund Authorization Act of 2019. The bill commits the United States to provide climate financing to keep the planet under 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming and promotes environmental justice and human rights.
“When the House passed the Climate Action Now Act, we affirmed that the United States should remain in the Paris Climate Agreement and solidified our calls to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It remains critical that we continue our efforts to promote a bold and swift transition to a clean energy economy and work beyond our borders to mitigate and adapt to climate change as we bring forth solutions to combat it. My bill, the Green Climate Fund Authorization Act of 2019, would authorize appropriations to the Green Climate Fund, ensuring that the United States is a leader in global solutions to combat climate change. Today, as the Trump administration formally announces its intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, we must demonstrate through our actions that the U.S. remains a leader in the fight against climate change and for environmental justice,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat.
“We have a moral and legal obligation to fund the Green Climate Fund. But more than that, doing so is an absolute necessity if we’re serious about fixing the climate crisis. Without support from countries like the U.S. – as one of the world’s richest countries and the world’s biggest climate polluter – poorer countries, many of which have had no role in causing climate change, have little ability to transition to clean economies or protect their people from climate impacts. Any comprehensive climate solution must include climate finance to support climate action in poor countries, and the Green Climate Fund is the best channel for that support,” said Brandon Wu, Director of Policy & Campaigns at ActionAid USA.
“We know that any effective, just US climate policy must recognize this country’s responsibility to contribute to global solutions, including through an unprecedented commitment to climate financing. Moreover, we know where the money goes matters. The more that resources needed to mitigate and adapt to climate breakdown are channeled to changemakers at the grassroots level — and particularly women and girls in frontline communities of the Global South — the better chance we have to tackle climate breakdown locally and globally. Frontline women climate defenders sustain their communities through climate catastrophes, from preserving local water sources through drought to storing seeds after floods destroy crops. We must resource their vital work and advance policies guided by their expertise. We commend the Green Climate Fund Authorization Act for spotlighting that our policy efforts must center women, communities of color, Indigenous Peoples, and all frontline communities globally, and for committing to fulfill US obligations to climate financing,” said Yifat Susskind, Executive Director, MADRE.
“Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time – one that disproportionately affects environmental justice communities. Authorizing a Green Climate Fund will provide climate financing to support mitigation and adaptation in a just and equitable manner. While the Trump Administration moves us backward on the environment by withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, Congressman Espaillat is helping to lead the way on climate action and climate justice. We thank him for his leadership and look forward to working with him as this legislation moves forward,” said Julie Tighe, President of the New York League of Conservation Voters.
The Green Climate Fund Authorization Act of 2019 would authorize appropriations to the Green Climate Fund, an independent, multilateral fund established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to help developing countries limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
To date, the Green Climate Fund Authorization Act has been endorsed by: ActionAid USA; Action Corps; American Jewish World Service (AJWS); Center for Biological Diversity; Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL); Church World Service; Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach; Corporate Accountability; EcoEquity; Friends Committee on National Legislation; Friends of the Earth; GreenLatinos; Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN); Institute for Policy Studies Climate Policy Program; Islamic Relief USA; League of Conservation Voters; MADRE; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; Mennonite Central Committee – U.S. Washington Office; New York League of Conservation Voters; Oxfam America; Public Citizen; Sunrise Movement; Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN); and Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO).
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First elected to Congress in 2016, Rep. Adriano Espaillat is serving his second term in Congress where he serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the House Small Business Committee. He serves as a Senior Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) where he also serves in a leadership role as CHC Whip. He is also chairman of the CHC Task Force for Transportation, Infrastructure and Housing. Rep. Espaillat’s Congressional District includes Harlem, East Harlem, northern Manhattan and the north-west Bronx. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.
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