‘I’ve got this,’ Michael Bloomberg to the US on the country’s Paris accord bill
Washington — Former New York City mayor and billionaire philanthropist Michael Bloomberg on Sunday promised $4.5m to fulfil the US’s commitment to the Paris climate agreement. "America made a commitment and as an American if the government’s not going to do it we all have responsibility," he told CBS’s Face the Nation. Last June, US President Donald Trump announced the US would withdraw from the pact, championed by his predecessor Barack Obama. The president, whose Republican party has strong ties to the fossil fuel industry, said that the agreement was unfair to the world’s largest economy. "I’m able to do it. So, yes, I’m going to send them a check for the monies that America had promised to the organisation as though they got it from the federal government," Bloomberg said. The landmark treaty was agreed by 197 nations in 2015 after intense negotiations in Paris, where all countries made voluntary carbon-cutting pledges running to 2030. The pact saw countries agree to limit avera...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.