Inhofe: Obama’s climate fund pledge not realistic priority

Incoming chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works James Inhofe (R-Okla.) sounded off on President Obama’s move to pledge $3 billion to a climate fund that will help poor nations fight global warming.

Obama will make the announcement during the Group of 20 meeting between global leaders in Brisbane on the heels of unveiling a deal with China to slash greenhouse gas emissions, which enraged Republicans.

The new pledge, which the administration argues is critical to negotiations leading to climate talks next year in Paris, was quickly met with scrutiny from Inhofe, a known climate skeptic.

{mosads}”President Obama’s pledge to give unelected bureaucrats at the U.N. $3 billion for climate change initiatives is an unfortunate decision to not listen to voters in this most recent election cycle,” Inhofe said.

“The president’s climate change agenda has only siphoned precious taxpayer dollars away from the real problems facing the American people,” he added.

Inhofe vowed to fight the pledge and Obama’s agenda, claiming he would work with his colleagues to “reset the misguiding priorities of Washington.”

“This includes getting our nation’s debt under control, securing proper equipment and training to protect our men and women in uniform, and repairing our nation’s crumbling roads and bridges. These are the realistic priorities of today,” he said.