US president Barack Obama has pledged to double funding for clean energy research and development by 2020 to help combat climate change.
Obama’s plans are included in a $4.1 trillion budget sent to Congress Tuesday however the proposal faces a hostile Republican-led legislature.
The budget includes new investments “to help the private sector create more jobs faster, lower the cost of clean energy faster, and help clean, renewable power outcompete dirty fuels in every state,” said Obama (pictured) in a weekly address to the nation Saturday.
Fiscal year 2017, which starts 1 October 2016, includes a $10 a barrel fee on oil to help pay for the transition from fossil fuels. However, Republicans have already said they won’t consider such a measure.
The budget provides $7.7bn for clean energy research and development in support of Mission Innovation, a 20-country agreement to double government R&D funding over five years.
The proposal also includes more than $1.3bn to accelerate the adoption of clean energy sources such as solar, wind and low-carbon fossil fuels, and energy-efficiency technologies.
The budget would invest $320bn over 10 years to build a “21st century clean transportation system”, including $280m to scale up plug-in electric vehicles.
In addition, Obama plans to provide $1.3bn to the Global Climate Change Initiative, including $750m for the Green Climate Fund. The fund helps developing countries leverage public and private financing to invest in reducing carbon pollution and strengthening resilience to climate change.
Despite Obama’s upbeat delivery of the budget, it faces opposition in Congress. All the measures are unlikely to be adopted although lawmakers could approve some of the proposals.
Image: White House
