Energy advocacy group asks Vance for full audit of US participation in UN climate summits

Power the Future, which advocates for the U.S. energy industry, is asking Vice President JD Vance for a full audit of U.S. participation in the United Nations' climate summits, the 2025 COP30 and this year's COP31. 

As energy costs grow, the group argued in the letter, there should be more scrutiny to determine if taxpayers are funding trips to climate conferences where foreign climate advocates push the U.S. to adopt climate policies that drive up costs. 

"We believe the American people have a right to know about how their money is spent or committed in connection with these summits," Daniel Turner, Power the Future executive director, said in the letter. 

Earlier this month, the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Institute announced that a delegation of 19 members from the U.S. House would be traveling to Antalya, Turkey, for COP31. With a new Congress coming next year, the announcement explains, there's an opportunity to advance the SEEC's preferred climate policies. 

"Members will meet with international policymakers, civil society organizations, advocates and activists, community and business leaders, and experts to strengthen partnerships and explore opportunities for renewed U.S. engagement on climate, energy, and economic policy," the SEEC said in the announcement. 

The announcement isn't clear who provided the funding for the travel, lodging and other expenses for the delegation's attendance, and the group won't be announcing who's going until they arrive in Turkey.  

Power the Future asks that an audit be conducted to determine if any taxpayer funding that went to support federal employees or contractors' attendance or support of COP 30, whether any federal funds are committed for COP31 meetings, and what other taxpayer funds are going to support the summits. 

"Two years ago, the American people did not vote to fund luxury climate summits or to send their hard-earned money overseas to satisfy foreign climate demands. President Trump has put America's energy workers and taxpayers first, and a full audit would ensure that commitment is honored across the entire federal government," Turner wrote.