Senate Committee Passes Merkley Climate Amendment with Bipartisan Support

Thursday, July 9, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee threw bipartisan support behind an amendment sponsored by Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley to help tackle climate change. The amendment enables the U.S. State Department to invest in the global Green Climate Fund. The amendment passed on a bipartisan 16-14 vote and was adopted into the Senate’s State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill.

The Green Climate Fund is an international fund set up to help nations worldwide – particularly developing nations – adapt to climate change and adopt clean energy sources. This fund is essential to an international framework for nations to work together to take on climate change. 

A provision of today’s bill would have prevented the United States from contributing to the Green Climate Fund. Merkley’s amendment struck that provision and makes clear that the Administration has the power to dedicate resources from the United States to combat global climate change through contributions to this fund.

“Climate change is a global problem, and it requires a global solution,” said Merkley. “Changes in our climate are already wreaking havoc on Oregon’s farming, fishing and forests, and we must work urgently to limit the damage by cutting carbon pollution. America cannot tackle climate change on its own, because it requires reductions in greenhouse gases by nations across the planet. That it is why contributing to the Green Climate Fund is essential to an international agreement in Paris later this year.”