The international summit on climate change is set to take place in the coming week as world leaders are set to propose their strategies in combating climate change. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be leading the congressional delegation in the upcoming climate summit.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced Wednesday that Pelosi would be leading the congressional delegation to the international climate talks that will take place on October 31, Bloomberg reports. The talks that will happen in Glasgow, Scotland, also come as climate scientists have warned again that action must be taken in order to avert the climate crisis and prevent the worsening effects of global warming.
Speaking with the press in Washington, Hoyer said that the upcoming trip was to stress the US commitment to the conditions in the Paris Climate Agreement to lower down the rate of carbon emissions in the world. Democratic Senators are also expected to attend the upcoming COP26 climate summit along with some House Republicans who are also pushing for action on climate change.
Along with US President Joe Biden, Pelosi, and the congressional delegation, several members of the Cabinet are also expected to be in attendance: Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Environmental Protection Agency chief Michael Regan, and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Former President Barack Obama is also planning to attend and meet with climate activists.
In other related news, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, made a rare political statement recently as she penned a letter to Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, underscoring the need for paid family leave. This comes as Democrats are still in the midst of negotiations regarding provisions of the Democrat-led infrastructure proposal that would tackle care for families, especially those of the middle class.
In her letter, Markle recalled her beginnings and early work experiences in order to make ends meet. Markle also criticized the country’s economic system and noted that many other parents have not been as fortunate as her in being able to take time off to care for their children.
“In June, my husband and I welcomed our second child. Like any parents, we were overjoyed. Like many parents, we were overwhelmed. Like fewer parents, we weren’t confronted with the harsh reality of either spending those first few critical months with our baby or going back to work,” wrote Markle.