Democratic leaders criticize U.S. absence at COP and blame fossil-fuel influence

Leader Jeffries and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi used a public appearance on the Senate side to criticize the United States’ absence from the recent U.N. climate conference in Belém, Brazil and to accuse the Trump administration of siding with fossil-fuel interests instead of representing public climate priorities.

Unidentified Speaker, who opened the event, said the State Department declined to support the speaker’s credentialing for the COP and that travel to the meeting was facilitated by the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment (GLOBE). The same speaker said, "Trump does not represent the United States of government on matters related to climate. He represents the fossil fuel industry and specifically his big billionaire fossil fuel donors." The remarks framed the administration’s posture as rooted in industry influence rather than national interest.

The leaders urged policy responses and public pressure. Leader Jeffries tied the climate crisis to affordability, saying extreme weather is driving up homeowners insurance costs and making homeownership less attainable. "Homeownership has become unaffordable in far too many places," he said, arguing that clean-energy policy supports jobs and lowers costs.

Pelosi placed the current moment in historical context, recalling bipartisan delegations to early COP meetings and the policy gains such as the Inflation Reduction Act. She urged truthfulness about who has blocked action and called for sustained outside mobilization — especially by young people — to preserve and advance climate policy.

Both leaders called for concrete policies, naming carbon pricing as essential. The opening speaker pointed to the European Union’s carbon border adjustment as a leading example, saying: "If you want to get the plane over the mountain top safely, you've gotta have carbon pricing."

The event closed without any formal votes or policy action; speakers said the goal was to draw public attention and build momentum ahead of congressional and electoral fights.