Pelosi heading to Madrid for UN climate change convention

House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiDivided citizenry and government — a call to action for common ground Drastic cuts proposed to Medicare would hurt health care quality No thank you, Dr. Fauci MORE (D-Calif.) will lead a delegation of congressional Democrats to the United Nations climate change conference in Madrid next week, her office announced Saturday.

Pelosi and 14 other Democrats from both chambers of Congress will attend the 2019 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also called COP25, her office said.

"It is a privilege to accompany a high-level Congressional delegation to Spain to combat the existential threat of our time: the climate crisis," Pelosi said in the statement.

“Taking action to protect our planet is a public health decision for clean air and clean water for our children, an economic decision for creating the green, good-paying jobs of the future, a national security decision to address resource competition and climate migration and also a moral decision to be good stewards of God’s creation and pass a sustainable, healthy planet to the next generation,” she added.

Pelosi will be joined by Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseGOP breaks with Trump firing of cyber chief: Adds to 'confusion and chaos' Graham becomes center of Georgia storm Graham says he's talked to officials in two states about election MORE (D-R.I.) and Democratic Reps. Frank Pallone Jr.Frank Joseph PalloneHouse Democrats urge Amazon to investigate, recall 'defective' products Asbestos ban stalls in Congress amid partisan fight Pharma execs say FDA will not lower standards for coronavirus vaccine MORE (N.J.), Eddie Bernice JohnsonEddie Bernice JohnsonHillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll House passes legislation to boost election security research Hillicon Valley: Twitter flags Trump campaign tweet of Biden clip as manipulated media | Democrats demand in-person election security briefings resume | Proposed rules to protect power grid raise concerns MORE (Texas), Raúl Grijalva (Ariz.), Kathy CastorKatherine (Kathy) Anne CastorProgress toward managing rising seas US to exit Paris accord whether Trump or Biden wins Democrats see Green New Deal yielding gains despite GOP attacks MORE (Fla.), Betty McCollumBetty Louise McCollumOVERNIGHT ENERGY: Biden eyes new leadership at troubled public lands agency | House progressives tout their growing numbers in the chamber at climate rally | Trump administration pushes for rollback of Arctic offshore drilling regulations Disagreements are a part of our process OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Trump extends Florida offshore drilling pause, expands it to Georgia, South Carolina | Democrats probe Park Service involvement in GOP convention | Sanders attacks 'corporate welfare' to coal industry included in relief package MORE (Minn.), Suzanne BonamiciSuzanne Marie BonamiciLawmakers condemn Trump's 'destabilizing' and 'politicizing' moves on climate assessment OVERNIGHT ENERGY:  House passes sweeping clean energy bill | Pebble Mine CEO resigns over secretly recorded comments about government officials  | Corporations roll out climate goals amid growing pressure to deliver Pelosi, Blumenaur condemn 'egregious abuses of power' by Trump against Oregon protestors MORE (Ore.)  Julia BrownleyJulia Andrews BrownleyHouse Democrats eyeing much broader Phase 3 stimulus Assistant House Speaker self-quarantines out of 'abundance of caution' Actor Orlando Bloom to self-quarantine MORE (Calif.), Jared HuffmanJared William HuffmanBickering Democrats return with divisions Lobbying world OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Democrats push expansion of offshore wind, block offshore drilling with ocean energy bill | Poll: Two-thirds of voters support Biden climate plan | Biden plan lags Green New Deal in fighting emissions from homes MORE (Calif.), Scott PetersScott H. PetersTrump's illness sparks new urgency for COVID-19 deal Moderate Democrats push leadership to pull marijuana legislation One doctor's thoughts on a hopeful future MORE (Calif.), Debbie DingellDeborah (Debbie) Ann DingellEx-AG Holder urges GOP to speak against Trump efforts to 'subvert' election results McEnany disputes any Trump 'advocacy' with invite to Michigan lawmakers Democrats, Biden camp blast Michigan state lawmakers for Trump meeting MORE (Mich.), Mike Levin (Calif.), Sean CastenSean CastenChamber-backed Democrats embrace endorsements in final stretch The Hill's Campaign Report: Buzz builds around Warren for VP Gun control group rolls out House endorsements MORE (Ill.) and Joseph Neguse (Colo.).

According to a U.N. press release, a key COP25 objective is to "raise overall ambition" for combating climate change "by completing several key aspects with respect to the full operationalization of the Paris Climate Change Agreement."

The Trump administration this month began the process of formally withdrawing from the Obama-era climate pact. The move from President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump campaign files for new recount in Georgia GOP senator congratulates Biden, says Trump should accept results FDA grants emergency approval to coronavirus antibody treatment given to Trump MORE, who has long criticized the agreement and vowed to leave it during a Rose Garden speech in 2017, begins a yearlong process to formally withdraw the U.S. from the accord.

The State Department said Saturday that despite plans to withdraw from the pact, the Trump administration "will continue to participate in ongoing climate change negotiations and meetings—such as COP25—to ensure a level playing field that protects U.S. interests."

The department announced that Ambassador Marcia Bernicat, principal deputy assistant secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, would lead the U.S. delegation to the summit with other officials from multiple federal agencies and departments.

Secretary of State Mike PompeoMichael (Mike) Richard PompeoTibetan political leader makes visit to White House for first time in six decades At least 8 killed, 30 wounded in Kabul rocket attack The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC - Pence, Biden wage tug of war over pandemic plans MORE justified Trump's move to formally withdraw from the Paris climate accord earlier this month, arguing that the agreement imposed an "unfair economic burden" on "American workers, businesses, and taxpayers."

Other focus areas for the conference, which takes place from Dec. 2 to Dec. 13, include "adaptation, loss and damage, transparency, finance, capacity-building, Indigenous issues, oceans, forestry, and gender."