The U.S. is set to withdraw from the Green Climate Fund and will give up its position on the fund’s board, according to a statement from the Treasury Department. This action aligns with the Trump administration’s earlier withdrawal from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
On January 8, 2026, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made the announcement via social media, stating, “Effective immediately, the United States will withdraw from @theGCF.”
The Treasury Department clarified in a statement that this decision is “consistent with the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the UNFCCC.” They also confirmed that the U.S. will formally inform the Green Climate Fund of this withdrawal and will resign from its board immediately.
“Our country will no longer support organizations like GCF that have goals which conflict with the belief that affordable and reliable energy is essential for economic growth and reducing poverty,” Bessent remarked.
The press release pointed out that the Trump administration is focused on “developing a complete range of affordable and reliable energy sources.”
Furthermore, the Treasury explained that the GCF, “established to support the objectives of the UNFCCC,” is now seen as misaligned with the administration’s goals. They concluded that ongoing participation in the GCF does not match the current priorities of the Trump Administration.
This decision follows an announcement on January 7th regarding the U.S. withdrawal from 66 organizations and treaties, many of which were described as part of a globalist agenda. A significant part of this decision involves the UNFCCC, which acts as a foundation for many international climate agreements. The Trump administration expressed opposition to using taxpayer money for entities regarded as “contrary to U.S. interests.”
The GCF was established as part of a 2009 UN agreement in Copenhagen, aimed at directing $100 billion annually to developing countries for climate initiatives. In recent times, the Biden administration has significantly ramped up U.S. contributions, pledging $1 billion in April 2023 and $3 billion during the COP28 Climate Summit in December 2023.
Biden administration figures, like former Vice President Kamala Harris and climate envoy John Kerry, have openly endorsed these contributions. At COP28, Harris remarked on the global opposition to climate progress, naming leaders who deny climate science and corporations that engage in greenwashing.
Kerry acknowledged the GCF’s efforts, noting its track record of aiding countries in energy transitions and helping communities build resilience against the climate crisis while mobilizing private investment to combat climate change.
