# US Congressional Delegation to Attend UN Climate Summit in Turkey Lawmakers seek diplomatic engagement despite President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris agreement. - **Source:** [Al-Monitor](https://www.al-monitor.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-04 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/efc9b8ae-d3de-4070-9b49-f9ede15c214e ## Congressional Delegation Travels Abroad A 19-member American congressional delegation is scheduled to travel to Antalya, Turkey, for the annual UN climate summit, COP31. Representative Sean Casten announced the trip following the party's recent midterm victory. Despite the official US withdrawal from the Paris agreement under President Trump, these lawmakers intend to maintain an active diplomatic presence. ## Navigating Official US Policy The United States is not participating in formal negotiations after President Trump withdrew the nation from the Paris agreement for a second time. Representative Casten acknowledged the complexity of this position, noting the historical context of the Kyoto Protocol failure and previous exits. The delegation aims to convey that American perspectives remain multifaceted. ## Diplomatic Objectives in Antalya The delegation, led by the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Institute, plans to engage with international policymakers, civil society groups, and business leaders. Their primary goal is to explore potential avenues for renewed US engagement regarding climate, energy, and economic policy. They seek to demonstrate that global challenges remain shared priorities. ## Addressing Shared Global Challenges Representative Casten emphasized that the delegation will focus on common issues such as climate refugees and financial volatility. The group also intends to discuss the urgent need for decarbonizing economies, particularly in the context of the ongoing Iran war. These discussions aim to highlight the interconnected nature of global environmental and economic stability. ## Domestic Political Constraints Domestically, President Trump has threatened to utilize his veto power, creating uncertainty regarding Democratic legislative achievements on climate issues. Even with control of both the House and Senate, lawmakers face significant hurdles. The delegation must navigate these internal political tensions while representing American interests on the international stage during the summit. ## Economic Drivers and Inflation Casten identified current tariffs on solar panels and electric vehicles, alongside the Iran war's impact on gasoline prices, as primary drivers of inflation. These economic factors complicate the transition to sustainable energy. The delegation plans to address these specific fiscal pressures during their meetings with international stakeholders and various business leaders. ## Cautious Optimism for Policy Despite the current administration's stance, Representative Casten expressed cautious optimism regarding potential policy shifts. He pointed to the Republican Party's historical support for environmental measures, such as emissions trading and ozone layer protection. These precedents provide a narrow framework for potential bipartisan cooperation on specific climate and economic policy initiatives moving forward. ## Broader Coalition Participation Beyond the congressional delegation, US state and local leaders are also traveling to Turkey under the America is All In coalition. This multi-level representation underscores the ongoing efforts by various American entities to remain involved in climate discussions. Their presence highlights a decentralized approach to maintaining international environmental commitments despite federal policy changes. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/11/us-lawmakers-will-go-un-climate-talks-turkey — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._