As Co-Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, it is critical that I see firsthand how climate change is impacting our planet. I’ve led Climate Change Tours of our National Parks and conducted a local tour in Chicago. This week, I traveled to Puerto Rico to hear from experts about the situation on the ground and the plans they have to mitigate extreme weather events.
Why Puerto Rico? Studies have shown that Puerto Rico’s population is among the largest in the world who believe climate change should be a high government priority. During our visit, I met with the Army Corps of Engineers to see projects keeping communities safe from rising sea levels, visited with groups working to protect Puerto Rico's lands of high ecological value, and visited El Yunque National Forest, which is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. It was incredible to explore Purto Rico, meet the Iguacas (also known as the Puerto Rican parrot), and hear from the Forest Service about the ways they are protecting the important diversity found in El Yunque.
To watch a recap of Day 1, click HERE and to watch a recap of Day 2, click HERE.