During the COP28 summit in Dubai, on December 2, 2023, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris declared America's commitment to combat the climate crisis. She highlighted the nation's investment in clean energy and initiatives position at increasing the resilience of vulnerable communities against climate-related disaster.
Harris announced that the United States would contribute an additional $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund, the primary financial resource for developing nations to adapt to climate change and reduce carbon emissions.
This follows criticisms received earlier in the week when the U.S. was accused of providing a comparatively small amount of $17.5 million to a newly established fund aiding developing countries in handling climate-related damages.
Harris emphasized the United States' commitment to taking action and achieving its ambitious goals during her speech on Saturday. She highlighted the significant investments made through the bipartisan infrastructure law and Inflation Reduction Act. Harris described this moment as pivotal and a demonstration of how the world should address the crisis.
In addition, US officials announced a new rule by the Environmental Protection Agency that is expected to greatly reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry. They also said their commitment to phasing out coal-fired power plants and joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance, a group focused on preventing the construction of new coal plants that don't capture carbon pollution.
Harris attending the summit in Dubai aligns with her recent efforts to increase public awareness and action on climate change.
