The Obama administration approved another $500 million contribution for a United Nations' climate fund on Tuesday, a move that is expected to infuriate Republicans who have sought to stop the payments.

.@statedeptspox: U.S. announcing additional grant to Green Climate Fund pic.twitter.com/QLy6rFd7vi — Department of State (@StateDept) January 17, 2017



The payment to the U.N. Green Climate Fund was approved for the second year in a row. The payments are part of the U.S.'s obligation under the Paris climate change agreement.

Environmental groups applauded the contribution and warned the incoming Trump administration not to reverse the U.S.'s obligations to support the fund.

"The incoming Trump administration and Congress must not play politics with the moral and legal obligation of the U.S. to provide assistance through the Green Climate Fund for those whose lives and livelihoods are today being devastated by climate change," said Friends of the Earth.

"This must not be twisted into some kind of game to score anti-science political points; the health, well-being and even survival of children and their families are at stake here," the group said.