The US government has given half a billion dollars to the UN's Green Climate Fund, just three days before Donald Trump takes office. Barack Obama's outgoing administration announced the contribution of 500 million dollars, bringing the total funds to date to one billion dollars. <br/><br/>Mr Obama pledged in 2014 to give 3 billion dollars to help tackle the effects of climate change in the poorest countries. Mr Trump has previously called global warming a hoax. <br/><br/>The President-elect has also threatened to pull the US out of the Paris accord – a global agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions – and America's commitment to the fund. Mr Trump could decide to withhold the rest of the fund. <br/><br/>However, John Kirby, the State Department spokesman who announced the grant, said there was no nefarious desire or intent behind the timing.

The US government has given half a billion dollars to the UN's Green Climate Fund, just three days before Donald Trump takes office. Barack Obama's outgoing administration announced the contribution of 500 million dollars, bringing the total funds to date to one billion dollars. <br/><br/>Mr Obama pledged in 2014 to give 3 billion dollars to help tackle the effects of climate change in the poorest countries. Mr Trump has previously called global warming a hoax. <br/><br/>The President-elect has also threatened to pull the US out of the Paris accord – a global agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions – and America's commitment to the fund. Mr Trump could decide to withhold the rest of the fund. <br/><br/>However, John Kirby, the State Department spokesman who announced the grant, said there was no nefarious desire or intent behind the timing.