Some of the leading climate experts from around the world visited western Connecticut Monday to attend a two-day conference at Yale University on climate change.

Scientists, politicians and corporate leaders were in attendance Monday, discussing the connection between climate change and hurricanes.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry, credited with helping to negotiate the Paris Climate Accords, is leading the panel.

Kerry says the conference is not a partisan event: "Extreme weather events do not come with a ‘D’ or an ‘R’ after the names Harvey or Irma.”

Climate scientists say it is not clear if warmer oceans created more hurricanes this year, but they do believe it fueled Harvey's heavy rains and Irma's record-setting winds.

"We expect, in fact, that there will be more of these monster storms,” says Yale research scientist Anthony Leiserowitz. “These Category 3,4 and 5 storms -- and unfortunately, sadly, we're experiencing some really horrific tragedies right now."

Yale experts tell News 12 that Connecticut is a national leader in climate change preparation.

Leiserowitz says the Connecticut Green Bank is helping communities invest in renewable energy and the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Program, a coalition of states throughout New England, is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Actor and climate activist Leonardo DiCaprio is expected to attend the conference Tuesday.