Bloomberg Philanthropies Commits Another $5.5 Million To United Nations Climate Change Secretariat

Michael R. Bloomberg, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action, three-term mayor of New York City, and founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, has committed $5.5 million to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat to make up for the funding gap left by the United States federal government.

This is the second year in a row Bloomberg Philanthropies has committed money to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat after it contributed $4.5 million in April of 2018 in an effort to ensure the United States will honor its Paris Climate Agreement.

“The United States made a promise to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement – and if the federal government won’t hold up our end of the deal, then the American people must,” said Michael R. Bloomberg. “As mayors, governors, business leaders, and private citizens across the country work to ensure that we meet our climate targets, our foundation will again cover the difference in federal funding to the United Nations. Together, we’re sending a loud, clear message to the rest of the world: regardless of what’s happening in Washington, we’re in this fight with you.”

Bloomberg’s funding commitments are intended to address the lack of funding provided by the US Federal Government. According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, while the Obama Administration committed a total of $15 million to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat for the 2018-2019 funding cycle, in 2018 the United States only transferred $2.5 million and is expected to deliver a similar amount this year. This obviously falls well short of the country’s commitment, albeit an unsurprising shortfall given the current Administration’s antipathy towards climate concerns.

Further, Bloomberg has promised to make additional funds available in the event that the US government again fails to pay its share of the UN climate budget in 2020.

“With the effects of climate change already apparent – and accelerating – we need urgent action now to protect people and the planet,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. “As we look ahead to the September Climate Action Summit in New York, I am grateful to my Special Envoy, Mike Bloomberg, for his support for the United Nations Climate Change secretariat and his work to catalyze the kind of climate solutions we need on both a national and global scale.”

“The success of the Paris Agreement and global efforts to address climate change are contingent upon bold action from governments, private sector and civil society,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. “UN Climate Change Secretariat thanks Mike Bloomberg for his ongoing support for global climate action and welcomes his generous contribution to better assist countries in realizing their Paris goals.”