Solidifying America's global climate commitment at COP25

Dear Friend,

Last week, I joined 14 other members of Congress, at the invitation of Speaker Pelosi, to represent the United States at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties 25 (COP25) in Madrid, Spain.

While the president abandoned our pledge to the Paris Agreement and ceded American leadership on climate, Congress can still show the world that our nation remains committed to addressing climate change.

COP25 was the 25th gathering of governments part of the UNFCCC and focused on several topics especially relevant to our coastal communities in San Diego. Rising sea levels and changing ocean environments caused by climate change threaten our coast and marine ecosystems. Our oceans also play an invaluable role in absorbing atmospheric warming and regulating the Earth’s climate. Thankfully, San Diego is home to top scientists working to monitor and better understand these changes. Scripps Institution of Oceanography also attended the conference and showcased the Deep SOLO, a spherical float capable of measuring ocean conditions to depths of 20,000 feet.  

Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Mike Levin, and Speaker Pelosi learn about Scripps Institution of Oceanography’s DEEP SOLO monitoring system.

Rep. Scott Peters and other members of the congressional delegation meet with H.M. King Felipe VI at Zarzuela Palace to discuss our shared comittment to addressing climate change.

Delegates from different countries discussed the vital need to enact large-scale change to meet net-zero emissions; protect our oceans; and work across communities, governments, and generations to address the climate crisis.

We spoke with international leaders including H.M. King Felipe VI and European Parliament President David Sassoli about climate efforts being made in the European Union and around the world. We need cooperation among the largest emitters of greenhouse gases to reach our shared goal of carbon neutrality by mid-century.

We also met with global and U.S. faith-based non-governmental organizations to talk about our shared priorities in fighting the climate crisis and the important role faith leaders play in winning over skeptics.

I was honored to have the opportunity to advocate for U.S. leadership on climate while representing San Diego, Poway, and Coronado. The United States must do our part to combat climate change, so we will continue to promote durable and long-lasting climate policies at home and assure the rest of the world we are still committed to leaving a healthier, safer, and more sustainable planet for the next generation.

Sincerely,