Senate Dems go to Paris climate talks

Ten Senate Democrats flew to Paris on Friday morning to promote the climate change accord negotiations under way in France’s capital city.

The group, led by Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), is planning to participate in meetings and other events to help negotiators reach a deal and promote the United States’s leadership in the process.

{mosads}“U.S. leadership has played a critical role in bringing us to this time in history and we will not walk away from this global opportunity,” Cardin said in a statement released upon his arrival.

“The Paris agreement will help create jobs in America and around the world. It will continue to diversify and strengthen economies, as well as protect public health and the environment.”

Cardin, who is also on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has been tight-lipped in recent weeks about the plans for his delegation, citing uncertainties over the Senate’s schedule.

Joining Cardin are Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Ed Markey (Mass.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Tom Udall (N.M.), Chris Coons (Del.), Al Franken (Minn.), Brian Schatz (Hawaii) and Cory Booker (N.J.).

The lawmakers are planning a news conference Saturday at the conference center hosting the talks, to push for a strong agreement.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is considering bringing a delegation of House Democrats at some point during the talks, and Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) is organizing a House GOP trip to argue that President Obama’s promised greenhouse gas reductions cannot be met.