Pallone Underscores Importance of America’s Role in Climate Fight After Return from COP29
Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement today after returning from a Congressional Delegation trip with a bipartisan group of Energy and Commerce Committee members to Baku, Azerbaijan for the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP29:
“I was pleased to attend COP29 to demonstrate the United States’ ironclad commitment to being a leader in the global fight against the worsening climate crisis. Now more than ever, it is critical to prove that America is still in this fight and that we will not abandon our commitments or our allies.
“Trump’s intention to once again pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord is simply outrageous. By surrendering America’s role as a global climate leader, Trump will allow our adversaries and competitors to fill the void we leave behind. I made clear that is unacceptable, and that America will not back down from this fight.
“Our delegation met with COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, and we stressed the point that oil-producing nations like ours have a special obligation to prioritize clean energy and new technologies such as hydrogen and use of batteries for increased storage capacity.
“We also met with delegations from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Germany to highlight the Inflation Reduction Act as a proven model for how to transition to clean energy. As America’s booming clean energy industry proves, bold action to tackle the climate crisis and end our dependency on fossil fuels can unlock a new era of economic growth, good-paying jobs, energy independence, and cost savings.
“As I discussed during a meeting with a group of U.S. mayors and the America Is All In Coalition, most Inflation Reduction Act investments are already out the door and will be paying dividends for decades to come. After that meeting I am more confident than ever that our state and local government leaders will step up, meet this moment, and continue the good work of transitioning to clean energy. They will carry this fight forward as I work in Congress to make sure they have the resources and support they need. Their action will be even more important if Trump once again pulls the United States out of the Paris Climate Accord.
“Of course, it’s true that more must be done on the federal level. Thankfully there are bipartisan areas of agreement on issues such as nuclear power and carbon capture technology where we can come together. That’s why I’m holding out hope that my Republican colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee will come to the table and join me in working on common sense, bipartisan measures. I am determined to meet this moment and get the job done.”
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