Delegation of Democratic U.S. senators to express their strong support for climate talk negotiations
Paris (December 4, 2015) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined a delegation of ten U.S. Senators in Paris today to attend the COP 21 climate talks currently underway.
The Senate delegation, led by Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Ben Cardin (D-Md.), will attend the Paris talks and participate in a series of events and bilateral meetings with world leaders in support of achieving solutions to the challenges of climate change.
“By bringing together all the nations of the world and encouraging them to commit to achievable goals, the Paris talks could succeed where past attempts have failed,” said Senator Markey. “We now have the opportunity to forge an international climate agreement that includes all countries doing their fair share for a global solution to global warming. An agreement here in Paris can provide a powerful catalyst to bring about the changes in our energy system that we do want to end and the changes to the climate system that we don’t.
“America has always led on great challenges, and climate change is no exception. America must lead help lead the clean energy revolution, and the Clean Power Plan is one of the most important tools we have to do that. America has always been a ‘can do’ country, and by showing what we can do with the Clean Power Plan, it is a signal to the world that America will lead the global effort for climate action.”
Participating Senators include: Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts), Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-New Hampshire), Senator Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware), Senator Al Franken (D-Minnesota), Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey).
The delegation will attend the Climate Summit for Local Leaders at Paris City Hall and hold meetings at Le Bourget, site of the climate negotiations. Bilateral meetings are scheduled with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, former Vice President Al Gore, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, the U.S. delegation participating in the climate talks, as well as contingents from other countries.
On Saturday at 12:30, the delegation will hold a press conference at Le Bourget in Press Conference Room 1, Hall 2 that will be open to accredited reporters covering COP 21.
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