Mayor Ed Lee’s office revealed on Friday that he will travel to the Vatican this month to join Pope Francis and United Nations leaders who are set to hold extensive discussions on climate change and human trafficking.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is the lone Canadian who has received invitation to meet with Pope Francis to be part of discussion on climate change at the Vatican later this month.

Mr. Robertson said that he never requested to be part of roughly 30 international delegates and he was essentially cold-called.

California Governor Jerry Brown will also travel to the Vatican later this month to discuss with Pope Francis what actions are needed to be taken to curb climate change.

An international cadre of government officials and United Nations representatives will join Brown in Rome. Francis is hosting the summit to discuss the growing threat of climate change.

“We face an existential threat to human existence as we know it. It's not being taken seriously by the vast majority of powerful people. When the pope, as a powerful person, issues this encyclical, it's a helpful addition to the mix”, said Brown.

Roger Kim, a senior adviser to Ed Lee on environment and climate change, will also travel with the mayor to the Vatican. He said that the summit is a great platform to address the concern of climate change which national governments have so far failed to.

Attendees at the conference will get remarks from Lee, who will also provide details of the city’s actions program and steps needed to be taken against human trafficking.