John Kerry says the US will not be paying climate reparations to poorer nations

U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said that “under no circumstances” would the U.S. pay climate reparations to developing countries.

The former U.S. secretary of state was asked Thursday during a hearing before a House foreign affairs oversight subcommittee if the U.S. would be contributing to a fund that would pay poorer countries that have been harmed by flooding or other natural disasters. 

"No, under no circumstances," he replied. 

At the COP27 conference in Egypt last November, the U.S. supported a mechanism to address the "loss and damage" many countries endured as a result of flooding or other disasters, according to Reuters. It was not clear, however, who would pay into the fund or how money would be distributed.

Kerry received backlash from climate change activists over his comments. 

A professor in the department of geography and environment at Syracuse University, Farhana Sultana, said Kerry's remarks were "disgraceful," according to CNBC.