Gary Cohn invited officials from more than a dozen countries to the breakfast meeting to discuss “international energy and climate issues." | Alex Brandon/AP Photo Cohn to participate in energy, climate discussion at United Nations

National Economic Council director Gary Cohn will host an energy and climate change discussion with international officials in New York next week, an administration official confirmed.

The Monday meeting comes the day before the opening of the United Nations General Assembly, where President Donald Trump and dozens of other world leaders will speak.


Cohn invited officials from more than a dozen countries to the breakfast meeting to discuss “international energy and climate issues,” according to a copy of the invitation obtained by POLITICO.

The invitation, which Cohn sent on Sept. 7, says the huddle is an “opportunity for key ministers with responsibility for these issues to engage in an informal exchange of views and discuss how we can move forward most productively.”

The administration official stressed that the meeting, first reported by the New York Times, will not focus solely on climate change.

Trump infuriated foreign diplomats when he announced in June that he would withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement, which has won the support of nearly 200 nations. Cohn was among White House officials pushing Trump not to exit the Paris agreement at the time.

Playbook PM Sign up for our must-read newsletter on what's driving the afternoon in Washington. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

But so far, the United States has not formally withdrawn, and Trump administration officials have sent mixed signals about whether it is willing to reach a deal to remain in the pact.

The State Department announced last month that the U.S. would continue participating in international climate change negotiations, including talks aimed at implementing the Paris pact, "to protect U.S. interests and ensure all future policy options remain open to the administration."

Trump, who has called climate change a “hoax” perpetrated by the Chinese, has said the United States is getting an unfair deal in the Paris agreement.



This article tagged under: Gary Cohn