Sponsors (13)
The bill increases congressional control and can reduce near-term U.S. spending on international climate and ozone programs, but does so at the cost of reduced international cooperation, delayed climate and aid outcomes, diplomatic friction, and potential long-term uncertainty from conditional funding rules.
Taxpayers: Federal payments to international climate bodies (Montreal Protocol implementation and UNFCCC operations) are blocked until specified conditions are met, reducing near-term U.S. spending on those programs.
Congress and the President: The bill conditions funding on presidential certification and treaty-related changes, increasing congressional oversight and giving U.S. officials leverage to press for changes in international agreements before funds are released.
Federal agencies and lawmakers: The bill provides clearer statutory definitions for key international climate agreements, reducing ambiguity for implementation and oversight.
All Americans and the global environment: The bill can suspend or delay U.S. implementation of Montreal Protocol emissions reductions and UNFCCC-funded programs, slowing climate mitigation and ozone protection efforts.
U.S. foreign policy and negotiators: Withholding funding reduces U.S. influence in multilateral climate and ozone negotiations, making it harder to shape international outcomes and coordinate emissions reductions with partners.
U.S. government operations and program beneficiaries: Tying funding to multilateral changes the U.S. cannot unilaterally achieve (e.g., adding China to Annex I) risks creating an indefinite funding freeze and prolonged uncertainty for climate programs.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Blocks U.S. federal funding for Montreal Protocol implementation and for UNFCCC operations/meetings until presidential certifications about China’s treaty status are made.
Official title: Prohibit funding for the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change until China is no longer defined as a developing country.
Introduced February 20, 2025 by John A. Barrasso · Last progress February 20, 2025
Blocks U.S. federal funding for implementation of the Montreal Protocol and for the operations and meetings of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) until the President certifies specified treaty-party changes regarding the People’s Republic of China. For the Montreal Protocol, funds are barred until parties remove China from a decision that treats it as a developing country; for the UNFCCC, funds are barred until parties add China to Annex I (the list of developed countries with emissions commitments). The prohibitions apply notwithstanding other law and remain in force until the required presidential certifications are submitted to congressional committees.