Schatz, congressional delegation went to Iceland to learn about its climate change progress

A U.S. Senate delegation, led by Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), went to Iceland to learn about the countryʻs work on climate change, to strengthen U.S.-Iceland ties, discuss the NATO Alliance and meet with American servicemembers rotationally deployed to Keflavík Air Base.

The bipartisan delegation included senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.).

The senators were briefed by U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Carrin F. Patman and U.S. embassy officials. They met with host nation President Gudni Thorlacius Jóhannesson, Minister for the Environment, Energy, and Climate Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson and Foreign Affairs Minister Thórdís Gylfadóttir.

The senators also toured geothermal power plants and carbon removal facilities and met with experts, business and clean energy leaders to discuss Iceland’s work to produce nearly 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources and remove and store carbon from the atmosphere.

“Seeing the work Iceland is doing to develop its clean energy industry and fight climate change is impressive,” Schatz said. “With Iceland’s work as a model and new investments from the Inflation Reduction Act, we can further grow clean energy production across the United States and develop new technologies that will help us reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change.”

Smith said climate change no longer is a future threat.

“We’re seeing the impact every day in the form of record-shattering heatwaves, floods, wildfires and more,” he said. “We need all hands on deck if we’re serious about addressing this crisis, which is why working with our allies in Iceland and around the world is so important.”