WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Critics say Democrats who attended the United Nations' Summit on Climate Change won't be able to bring the changes they promised, because their party isn't in party.

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) says the promises they made were based on programs already in law. "The points we’re making were grounded in the American system. And that is, once regulations are in place, they have tremendous momentum and it’s hard to change them." Those programs include the clean power plan and vehicle emissions programs.

Senator Merkley says anyone who doubts whether climate change is a reality should talk to Oregonians. "In rural Oregon, they’re seeing the impact on forests from pine beetle, they’re seeing it from extended fire seasons, on the streams they fish, on farms where water is effected in the Klamath Basin, and they’re seeing it in the oyster industry."

He says that if action is not taken now, it'll be too late to bring about change that could stop temperatures from rising. He thinks world countries should meet every five years to review progress.