Speaker Pelosi today announced that she is leading a bipartisan Congressional Delegation trip to Greenland, Germany, Great Britain and Belgium to meet with leading scientists and political leaders working on solutions to combat global warming. The trip will be carbon offset.
“Scientific evidence and real-world examples tell us that global warming is an international crisis that must be solved with international cooperation and innovative solutions,” said Speaker Pelosi. “As we begin to craft legislative solutions to address this international crisis, Members of Congress will see firsthand the economic and environmental impact of global warming, as well as the actions our allies are already taking to address this global challenge.”
Earlier this year, the Speaker called for legislation to curb global warming. Congress is drafting wide-ranging legislation on energy independence by July 4 and global warming later this year. Pelosi also created the Select Committee Energy Independence and Global Warming to promote greater understanding of the problem.
The Congressional Delegation is made up of members of the Select Committee, including Chairman Ed Markey of Massachusetts; Congresswoman Hilda Solis of California; Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin of South Dakota; Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon; Congressman John Larson of Connecticut; and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri. Congressman David Hobson of Ohio, Ranking member of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee is also traveling.
The bipartisan delegation will be traveling to Greenland and is scheduled to meet with Dr. Konrad Steffen, who is the lead scientist at Swiss Camp located on the Jakobshavn Glacier. In Europe, the delegation is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, foreign and environmental ministers, members of parliament and leading environmentalists and scientists.
The Speaker has met in Washington with leaders from Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Iceland, United Kingdom, Norway and other countries, as well as the Secretary General of the United Nations on this critical issue. Many leaders have extended invitations and encouraged her to visit.
Because of the significance of this trip, the air travel will be carbon offset through the Pacific Forest Trust - a forest conservation and stewardship project that will permanently reduce approximately 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions over a 100-year period. The Speaker will personally pay for this effort.
Visit the Gavel throughout the week for video and photo blogging from the Speaker and Members traveling on the Congressional Delegation.