Press Release

December 12, 2015
Cardin Praises Climate Change Agreement

BALTIMORE – U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin, the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, praised the agreement announced today at the COP 21 negotiations in Paris.

 

“U.S. leadership played a critical role in bringing the international community together to this moment and for this purpose,” said Senator Cardin. “We will ensure that progress prevails, that momentum continues and that commitments are respected. The Congress will not be a spoiler of this landmark agreement because the United States is acting in a manner fully consistent with existing U.S. law.  No country is immune from the impacts of climate change and the scientific consensus is that failure to act at this moment in history will result in catastrophic impacts to the environment, global food security, and public safety. This is a once-in-a-lifetime agreement that 187 nations have developed together to forge cooperative solutions to the global climate crisis. The safety and security of future generations are at risk if this generation does not act responsibly.  President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and the U.S. negotiating team ably led by Special Envoy Todd Stern deserve high praise for this effort and their success will benefit the entire world.”

 

Earlier this month, Sen. Cardin led a 10 member delegation of U.S. Senators who traveled to COP 21 for the Paris talks. The group attended the Climate Summit for Local Leaders at Paris City Hall and held meetings at Le Bourget, site of the climate negotiations. Bilateral meetings occurred 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.

Senators who participated in the trip to COP 21 included: Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland), Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), 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).

 

Watch a video of the delegation at COP 21 here. (Minute 3)

 

Watch the senators’ press conference at Le Bourget, site of COP 21, here.

  

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