Climate bill sponsor hails Obama trip to Copenhagen

A co-sponsor of climate change legislation commended President Barack Obama for choosing to travel to a summit next month in Denmark.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the co-sponsor of the American Clean Energy and Security bill to have passed the House in June, hailed Obama's decision to attend the climate change meeting in Copenhagen.

"By putting a serious number for U.S. emission reductions on the table, the president just called the world's bet and then raised it for our negotiating partners," Markey said in a statement. "The president's attendance in Copenhagen demonstrates his personal commitment to getting a deal that is good for the U.S. and good for our clean energy future."

The Massachusetts lawmaker, who serves as chairman of twin climate and energy panels, said Obama's decision to attend the summit sends a "powerful statement that the U.S. is back."

World leaders scaled back their goals to reach a far-reaching accord at Copenhagen during a meeting earlier this month in Asia. But the meeting is still seen as a high-stakes step for both proponents and opponents of global warming regulation.

Former Vice President Al Gore plans to attend the summit, TalkingPointsMemo reported Wednesday, while the ranking Republican on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), also plans to attend the summit.

"In the effort to protect the planet from climate change, these are the most significant travel reservations ever made," Markey said. "With one trip to Copenhagen, President Obama will bring the United States to the climate table, putting U.S. leadership back on the map in the effort to fight carbon pollution."