Energy

State Department Handing Out $400,000 For ‘Climate Challenge’ In Morocco

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The Department of State is handing out nearly $400,000 for ideas on how to fight global warming in Morocco as part of its “Green Growth Climate Challenge,” according to the grant announcement.

“Morocco and the U.S. share a strong commitment to combating climate change which they are tackling aggressively at the international, national, and local levels,” reads the announcement, according to The Washington Free Beacon.

“The proposed competition will assist Morocco in breaking down barriers between government, academia, and the private sector to encourage the formulation of strong, climate friendly public policies, foster local clean energy economies, and support Morocco’s renewable energy goals,” the announcement continues.

The announcement comes as Morocco prepares to host a United Nations global warming summit in its capital city of Marrakesh in November. It’s the next main climate summit, called COP 22, where UN diplomats will work to implement the climate agreement countries agreed to in Paris in 2015.

U.S. officials are trying to arrive at COP 22 with some ideas on how Morocco can do more to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

“The energy industry is undergoing rapid transformation, offering countries the opportunity to accelerate clean energy deployment, from solar and wind to energy efficiency, through innovative policies and business models,” the department announcement reads.

“Local innovation is a critical component in the fight against climate change, fueling creative approaches to climate change mitigation and resiliency,” the department said. “The proposed challenge should aim to promote inclusive approaches that improve local governance and business practices, while also expanding economic opportunities for youth and women.”

But the $400,000 contest is only a snapshot of what the U.S. government will likely spend on the Morocco climate summit.

President Barack Obama’s attendance of the Paris summit last year cost taxpayers $2,976,296.20, according to the conservative group Judicial Watch.

That’s on top of the millions more spent on rail travel, hotels and other things the president needs when he travels abroad. The expenses for “additional cabinet members’ travel and catering, Secret Service meals, meeting rooms, etc. are not included in these totals,” Judicial Watch reported.

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