‘We’re still in it’

• Trump gave formal notice of the US withdrawal from Paris climate treaty last month

• Pelosi:  "We have a moral responsibility to future generations."  

US Congressional leader Nancy Pelosi told a UN climate conference yesterday that the world could still count on the United States in the fight against global warming despite Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement.

Pelosi and 14 other members of the US Congress were in Madrid to make the point that large swathes of the United States are committed to the targets set by the 2015 agreement, as are most Democratic candidates for president.

"We're here to say to all of you, on behalf of the House of Representatives and the Congress of the United States, we're still in it, we're still in it," Pelosi said to applause at a forum of heads of state from climate-vulnerable nations.

"We see this as an existential threat," she said. "We have not lived up to the challenge."

Leading the 15-strong delegation, which included one senator, Pelosi came to the UN climate meet even as her colleagues in the House consider articles of impeachment against the US president.

Trump has dismissed global warming as a hoax, dismantling many of the climate and environmental protection policies set in place by his predecessor, Barack Obama.

Last month Trump gave formal notice of the US withdrawal from the 196-nation Paris climate treaty, which calls for capping global warming at well below two degrees Celsius, and 1.5C if possible.

The United States under Barack Obama played a key role in pushing through the 2015 pact.

"We have a moral responsibility to future generations to pass on this planet in a better way," Pelosi said.

"We see climate change as a public health issue," she said, standing alongside heads of state from Costa Rica and Bangladesh.

"We see it as an economic issue because this is the way to new green technologies," she continued. "And we see it as a national security issue."

Moments before, UN Secretary General addressed the same room before speaking at the opening plenary of the 12-day meet, tasked with finalising the rules and procedures for the Paris deal, which becomes operational at the end of next year.