U.S. Democrats attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference on December 2, despite the pro-fossil fuel Trump administration withdrawing from the U.S. Paris climate agreement (a collaborative deal to lessen climate change).  A diplomatic team was sent by the Trump administration, but none of Trump’s senior members went.

Pelosi and other Democrats want President Donald Trump to change his mind about backing out of the deal. He believes the agreement would hurt the U.S. economy despite the U.S. being one of the major world polluters. Trump submitted the legal documents to leave the agreement last month and the process of the U.S. leaving the Paris climate agreement would be finished within a year.

“Our delegation is here to send a message that Congress’s commitment to take action on the climate crisis is ironclad,” Pelosi said according to the Speaker of the House website, speaker.gov. “Congress is going to act upon the science in a legislative way with everyone at the table.” Pelosi showed her commitment by declining to speak about Trump’s impeachment.

Climate club president junior Elliot Parrish believes that politicians who don’t pursue policies that fight climate change are neglecting the people’s priorities. Parrish said, “I would applaud her for the commitment and would encourage others in power to take a similar stance.”

The House of Representatives passed Climate Action Now Act, to keep the U.S. from leaving the Paris agreement. Pelosi said that this bill hasn’t made progress in the Senate.  Democrats want to launch a climate action plan in March 2020. 

“About two-thirds of U.S. adults (67%) say the federal government is doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change,” according to a 2018 Pew Research survey. 

If anyone believes there should be more action to help the earth, go to Climate Club after school in room 1400. This club meets on Tuesdays around 4 p.m. or when Recycling Club ends.