House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Mexican negotiator says US trade deal needs work, could be finalized next week Adam Schiff’s star rises with impeachment hearings MORE (D-Calif.) will lead a delegation of congressional Democrats to the United Nations climate change conference in Madrid next week, her office announced Saturday.
Pelosi and 14 other Democrats from both chambers of Congress will attend the 2019 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also called COP25, her office said.
“It is a privilege to accompany a high-level Congressional delegation to Spain to combat the existential threat of our time: the climate crisis,” Pelosi said in the statement.
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“Taking action to protect our planet is a public health decision for clean air and clean water for our children, an economic decision for creating the green, good-paying jobs of the future, a national security decision to address resource competition and climate migration and also a moral decision to be good stewards of God’s creation and pass a sustainable, healthy planet to the next generation,” she added.
Pelosi will be joined by Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehousePelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Overnight Energy: Protesters plan Black Friday climate strike | ‘Father of EPA’ dies | Democrats push EPA to abandon methane rollback Democratic senators push EPA to abandon methane rollback MORE (D-R.I.) and Democratic Reps. Frank Pallone Jr.Frank Joseph PallonePelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Hillicon Valley: House to vote on anti-robocall bill | DHS issues draft order to boost agency cybersecurity | Apple updates maps to show Crimea as Russian territory | TikTok blocks teen after clip critical of China Lawmakers tee up vote on compromise bill targeting robocalls MORE (N.J.), Eddie Bernice JohnsonEddie Bernice JohnsonPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention What has EPA been hiding about formaldehyde? Overnight Energy: House Science Committee hits EPA with subpoenas | California sues EPA over Trump revoking emissions waiver | Interior disbands board that floated privatization at national parks MORE (Texas), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.), Kathy CastorKatherine (Kathy) Anne CastorPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Overnight Energy: BLM staff face choice of relocation or resignation as agency moves | Trump says he’s ‘very much into climate’ | EPA rule would expand limits on scientific studies Trump: ‘I’m very much into climate’ MORE (Fla.), Betty McCollumBetty Louise McCollumPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Overnight Energy: Mark Ruffalo pushes Congress on ‘forever chemicals’ | Lawmakers spar over actor’s testimony | House Dems unveil renewable energy tax plan | Funding for conservation program passes Senate hurdle DC-area Democrats push to block funding for Bureau of Land Management relocation MORE (Minn.), Suzanne BonamiciSuzanne Marie BonamiciPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Scientists join Democrats in panning EPA’s ‘secret science’ rule Overnight Energy: Democrats call for Ross to resign over report he threatened NOAA officials | Commerce denies report | Documents detail plan to decentralize BLM | Lawmakers demand answers on bee-killing pesticide MORE (Ore.) Julia BrownleyJulia Andrews BrownleyPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention A dozen House Democrats call on EU ambassador to resign amid Ukraine scandal Katherine Clark quietly eyes leadership ascent MORE (Calif.), Jared HuffmanJared William HuffmanPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Harris introduces bill to prevent California wildfires Overnight Energy: Fight between EPA watchdog, agency lawyers heats up | Top EPA official under investigation over document destruction | DOJ issues subpoenas to automakers in California emissions pact MORE (Calif.), Scott PetersScott H. PetersPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Freer housing is ‘fairer housing’ — HUD should tie funding to looser zoning How to kickstart a rapid global warming slowdown MORE (Calif.), Debbie DingellDeborah (Debbie) Ann DingellPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Democrats demand FCC act over leak of phone location data Democratic lawmakers, 2020 candidates pay tribute to Conyers MORE (Mich.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Sean CastenSean CastenPelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Democrat unveils bill requiring banks to identify suspicious activity related to guns Club for Growth extends advertising against House Dems over impeachment MORE (Ill.) and Joseph Neguse (Colo.).
According to a U.N. press release, a key COP25 objective is to “raise overall ambition” for combating climate change “by completing several key aspects with respect to the full operationalization of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.”
The Trump administration this month began the process of formally withdrawing from the Obama-era climate pact. The move from President TrumpDonald John TrumpHouse Intelligence Committee to review impeachment investigation report Monday Comedian Rosanne Barr to speak at Trumpettes’ Gala at Mar-A-Lago Israeli, Palestinian business leaders seek Trump boost for investment project MORE, who has long criticized the agreement and vowed to leave it during a Rose Garden speech in 2017, begins a yearlong process to formally withdraw the U.S. from the accord.
The State Department said Saturday that despite plans to withdraw from the pact, the Trump administration “will continue to participate in ongoing climate change negotiations and meetings—such as COP25—to ensure a level playing field that protects U.S. interests.”
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The department announced that Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, principal deputy assistant secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, would lead the U.S. delegation to the summit with other officials from multiple federal agencies and departments.
Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoIsraeli, Palestinian business leaders seek Trump boost for investment project Pelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention Ex-GOP lawmaker: Former colleagues privately say they’re ‘disgusted and exhausted’ by Trump MORE justified Trump’s move to formally withdraw from the Paris climate accord earlier this month, arguing that the agreement imposed an “unfair economic burden” on “American workers, businesses, and taxpayers.”
Other focus areas for the conference, which takes place from Dec. 2 to Dec. 13, include “adaptation, loss and damage, transparency, finance, capacity-building, Indigenous issues, oceans, forestry, and gender.”