"LE BOURGET, France -- French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius today dismissed a U.S. House vote to gut the cornerstone of President Obama's international climate change promises, saying opposition in Congress won't derail talks here toward a new agreement.

"My sense was that wasn't a great surprise, what happened. We know the position that the Congress has, at least the position of many Republicans in Congress," Fabius said.

"In fact, we discussed this the other day with President Obama when we were having dinner. For him, it wasn't a surprise."

The House approved two Senate resolutions yesterday aimed at killing the Clean Power Plan regulations that will restrict carbon emissions from new power plants. They passed 242-280 and 235-188, mostly along party lines, and now head to Obama's desk.

U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern said he has been assuring his counterparts from other nations here that the resolutions will get a swift veto."

Lisa Friedman reports for Greenwire December 2, 2015. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Climate Envoy: GOP Votes Aren’t Hurting Paris Talks" (The Hill) [3]

"Sorry, Senators: Your Opinion on the Paris Climate Change Agreement Does Not Matter" (Pacific Standard) [4]

"Votes in Congress Move to Undercut Climate Pledge" (New York Times) [5]