$10 Billion U.N. Climate Change Fund Wants Immunity From Prosecution

Why would they need this?

(Fox News) The Green Climate Fund, (GCF) a United Nations-affiliated piggy-bank intended to finance climate change projects around the world, is determined to win sweeping U.N.-style immunities from prosecutions for its global operations–even though the U.S., its biggest contributor, opposes the idea, and the U.N. itself says its own diplomatic immunities can’t cover the outfit.

The immunities issue could well spark even deeper opposition from Republican lawmakers in next year’s Congress to the Obama Administration’s aggressive climate change policies–which include a recent $3 billion pledge to the Fund.

“We would definitely be opposed to any extension of immunity to the Fund,” said a senior aide to Republican Senator James Inhofe of Oklahoma, who will chair the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works starting in January.

“What do they need protection from?” he asked. “In essence, they are doing business development projects. If you look at the way millions of people do transactions across national borders, they do it without immunity and very successfully.”

And what does this immunity look like?

The shield would cover all documentation as well as the words and actions of officials and consultants involved in the activity documentation—even after they move on to other jobs. As a tasty side-benefit, the “privileges” attached to such “privileges and immunities,” as they are known in diplomatic parlance, mean that employees get their salaries tax-free.

What could they possibly be worried about in wanting this immunity? When asked, Michel Smitall, a Fund spokesman, said

“Privileges and immunities are intended to facilitate GCF activities in countries in which it operates and the GCF’s ability to use contributions by donor countries in an effective and efficient manner that serves the objectives agreed by its member countries,” he said.

Smitall added that it is “premature” to give out any information on the specific scope of privileges and immunities, because these “would be negotiated bilaterally with countries in which the GCF operates.”

Apparently, this could give them ambassador and diplomatic staff style immunity, but, hey, don’t worry, because the GCF “functions in a transparent manner, with strong oversight by its [24-member] Board”. They’re totally above board, and ready to work with any nation where one of their people breaks the law. Though they’ll have total immunity. And it’s not like in many countries where GCF operates they’ll be dealing directly with national leaders with a financial stake in the projects. And don’t worry that the GCF could potentially be dealing with hundreds of billions of dollars, potentially trillions, because they are totally trustable. Just like the United Nations, which never does anything bad. It’s not like there have been scandals like the Oil For Food program. And the “climate change” community certainly never does anything wrong.

Crossed at Pirate’s Cove. Follow me on Twitter @WilliamTeach.

Share this!

Enjoy reading? Share it with your friends!