WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a leading voice on climate change—is headed to Glasgow to join international climate negotiations at the COP26 summit.
“From massive wildfires, to devastating floods, to record-breaking hurricanes and heat waves, we are already seeing the impacts of climate chaos across our nation and the world. Momentum is building for ambitious action,” said Merkley.
“Climate chaos is a global problem, and requires global solutions. While the global community has made significant strides in recent years—and already this week at COP26—we are in a race against time,” Merkley continued. “As things stand today, we are falling short of the solutions needed to reach the critical target of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. If we want to prevent the most catastrophic effects of climate chaos—with millions of lives and livelihoods on the line—then we need to make a bold and rapid transition to a renewable energy economy. The U.S. must be a global leader in the fight against climate catastrophe, and I will do everything I can in Glasgow to ensure we live up to our responsibility to be a part of the solution to the biggest challenge facing humanity.”
Merkley will travel to Glasgow as part of a congressional delegation led by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE). The delegation will hold bilateral meetings with other nations, as well as meeting with President Biden’s Climate Envoy, former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Merkley has been a leader in pushing for strong climate action in the President’s Build Back Better package, and also has used his position in the Senate to advocate for international climate solutions. Last week, in the lead-up to Glasgow, Merkley unveiled legislation that would help end international financial institutions’ financing of new fossil fuel projects.
Video footage of Merkley discussing his upcoming trip to Glasgow is available here.
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