Overnight Energy: Pelosi vows bold action to counter 'existential' climate threat | Trump jokes new light bulbs don't make him look as good | 'Forever chemicals' measure pulled from defense bill

IT’S EXISTENTIAL: Democrats on Friday warned of the “existential threat” posed by climate change, hammering President TrumpDonald John TrumpTrump says he will ‘temporarily hold off’ on declaring Mexican drug cartels as terror organization House Judiciary Committee formally receives impeachment report Artist behind gold toilet offered to Trump sells banana duct-taped to a wall for 0,000 MORE‘s inaction on the topic while vowing to move aggressively next year on legislation designed to tackle the global issue.

“The reality of the crisis has to be met with the actuality of action that we take,” Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiHouse Judiciary Committee formally receives impeachment report Overnight Energy: Pelosi vows bold action to counter ‘existential’ climate threat | Trump jokes new light bulbs don’t make him look as good | ‘Forever chemicals’ measure pulled from defense bill Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson – House progressives may try to block vote on Pelosi drug bill | McConnell, Grassley at odds over Trump-backed drug pricing bill | Lawmakers close to deal on surprise medical bills MORE (D-Calif.) told reporters in the Capitol, calling it “the existential threat to this generation.”

Pelosi was joined by a group of Democrats who also participated this week in a climate summit in Madrid, where world leaders, scientists, businesses and environmental activists gathered for talks aimed at boosting the 2015 Paris climate accord, the Obama-era pact forged to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Trump has promised to pull the United States out of that landmark agreement, claiming it would threaten America’s economy. Pelosi and other congressional Democrats attended the Madrid summit in large part to reassure the other participants in the accord that Trump’s position is no indication the United States is abandoning the effort.

“The world was hungry for that,” said Sen. Sheldon WhitehouseSheldon WhitehouseOvernight Energy: Pelosi vows bold action to counter ‘existential’ climate threat | Trump jokes new light bulbs don’t make him look as good | ‘Forever chemicals’ measure pulled from defense bill Pelosi warns of ‘existential’ climate threat, vows bold action Republicans raise concerns over Trump pardoning service members MORE (D-R.I.), who was also on the trip.

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, delivered a similar message.

“It’s not only an issue of survival for species and for human beings, it is an issue that deals with the economics and the future generations of this country. And this visit reaffirms … the fact that we have a role — a principled role — in the fight against climate change,” Grijalva said.

He added that “the fact that this administration has chosen not to” is not “the will or the desire of the American people.”

Upon retaking the Speaker’s gavel this year, Pelosi created a special panel — the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis — to examine the threat posed by a warming planet and draft a report outlining remedies.

That report will be released next spring, said Rep. Kathy CastorKatherine (Kathy) Anne CastorOvernight Energy: Pelosi vows bold action to counter ‘existential’ climate threat | Trump jokes new light bulbs don’t make him look as good | ‘Forever chemicals’ measure pulled from defense bill Pelosi warns of ‘existential’ climate threat, vows bold action Overnight Energy: Pelosi vows to push for Paris climate goals | Senate confirms Brouillette to succeed Perry at Energy | EPA under attack from all sides over ethanol rule MORE (D-Fla.), who chairs the panel, and Democrats will move afterwards to transfer those recommendations into targeted legislation.

“We’re running out of time,” Castor said, lamenting the “leadership vacuum” in the White House.

That legislation is almost certainly dead on arrival in the Republican-controlled Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellOvernight Energy: Pelosi vows bold action to counter ‘existential’ climate threat | Trump jokes new light bulbs don’t make him look as good | ‘Forever chemicals’ measure pulled from defense bill Overnight Health Care — Presented by Johnson & Johnson – House progressives may try to block vote on Pelosi drug bill | McConnell, Grassley at odds over Trump-backed drug pricing bill | Lawmakers close to deal on surprise medical bills GOP senators request interview with former DNC contractor to probe possible Ukraine ties MORE (R-Ky.) has long defended the coal and other fossil fuel industries from the imposition of tougher environmental standards.