[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     U.N. CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

  (Mr. TONKO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  

  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support and 
optimism for the U.N. Climate Change Conference, or COP 21, which will 
be held in Paris next month.
  In advance of the negotiations, 146 parties submitted Intended 
Nationally Determined Contributions, laying out the actions they intend 
to take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These pledges cover 86 
percent of global emissions.
  We have seen major commitments from the United States, the European 
Union, China, and other major developing nations. We have also seen 
incredible support from the private sector.
  Many companies, including dozens of Fortune 500 companies, have made 
commitments to the American Business Act on Climate Pledge. Many 
businesses recognize that acting on climate change is not only the 
morally right thing to do, but the economically right thing to do, 
also.
  An agreement in Paris would be an incredible first step that could be 
built upon with even more ambitious goals in the coming years because 
the bottom line in climate change is too big to tackle alone.
  We need global cooperation from governments and businesses, and the 
United States must be a leader, demanding bold action to take on the 
very real threats we face.
  An agreement in Paris is good for our national security, our economy, 
and our environment. I wish good luck to our negotiating team.

                          ____________________