Democrats to attend Cop31 climate talks boosted by midterms and eager to make up for Trump-era setbacks
Despite the US government boycotting the COP31 climate summit in Turkey, a group of Democratic lawmakers is attending the event using private funding. The delegation aims to maintain diplomatic continuity and signal a shift in US climate engagement following recent midterm election gains.
Why it matters
Illustrates the deep divide in US climate policy and the efforts of opposition lawmakers to maintain international commitments despite executive-level obstruction.
US midterm voters, and Donald Trump. Composite: Getty Images US midterm voters, and Donald Trump. Composite: Getty Images Cop31 Democrats to attend Cop31 climate talks boosted by midterms and eager to make up for Trump-era setbacks US government will have no official presence at UN’s annual climate summit, this year’s Cop31 held in Antalya, Turkey
Oliver Milman Mon 9 Nov 2026 06.00 GMT Last modified on Mon 9 Nov 2026 06.02 GMT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google T he US will be absent from key UN climate talks that start on Monday, a further sign of Donald Trump’s scornful dismissal of the climate crisis. But Democrats’ crushing win in the US midterm elections has delivered a timely shot of optimism to countries now looking beyond the Trump era of climate obstruction.
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