The New York Times’s annual Climate Forward event convenes top global leaders, policymakers, business figures, and activists to discuss the evolving landscape of environmental policy worldwide. A central theme this year is the profound impact of the Trump administration’s approach to climate policy, both domestically and internationally.
Event Highlights
The event kicked off with discussions highlighting the significant shift in global climate efforts. While the United States, under the previous administration, positioned itself as a climate leader, President Trump’s current policies have led to a withdrawal from international agreements like the Paris Agreement. This administration is actively promoting fossil fuels and downplaying the urgency of climate change threats.
Despite this, André Corrêa do Lago, the Brazilian diplomat leading this year’s United Nations climate negotiations (COP30), stated that U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright would still be welcome at the upcoming conference. Wright is scheduled to speak at Climate Forward, offering his perspective on energy policy.
The global community faces immense challenges: record temperatures, escalating climate-fueled disasters, and a dramatically altered political environment. This coincides with a surge in energy demand, partly driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, and China’s rapid dominance in clean energy technologies like batteries and solar.
The conference lineup includes prominent figures such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, who is developing a commercial fusion power plant. The discussions aim to cover a broad spectrum of topics, including the future of climate action without the U.S. at the forefront.
Complementing the live event, a podcast series titled “Climate Forward” launched with an episode featuring former Vice President Al Gore. Nearly 20 years after his impactful documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” Gore reflected on the climate movement’s journey and current standing.
Supplying Clean Energy for a Productive Life
A critical discussion at the conference addressed global energy poverty. Over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean cooking fuel, and hundreds of millions live without electricity. Despite a booming renewable energy sector in developed nations, there’s a stark lack of investment in bringing electricity to developing countries.
Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen, noted that “Climate finance isn’t scarce; it’s scared.” Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, highlighted that out of an estimated $2.2 trillion in clean energy financing this year, only 15% reaches the developing world, with a mere 2% going to Africa.
In response, the World Bank and the African Development Bank are spearheading an ambitious initiative to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030, backed by over $35 billion in investment. Ogunbiyi emphasized the fundamental link: “There’s no way you can develop a society and say low-energy, high-productivity. So it’s really, really important that we need to get enough energy to people to live a productive life.”
Does the Environmental Movement Need a New Strategy?
A panel on the future of climate activism explored whether the movement needs to adapt its strategies. While environmental leaders rejected the notion that the 2024 presidential election was a referendum solely on climate, they acknowledged the need for improved communication.
Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, stated, “An important lesson from 2024 for us is, I think, we can do a better job in connecting the dots between climate, between clean energy and the kitchen-table issues that people do care about.”
Activist and author Bill McKibben warned that President Trump’s policies, which favor fossil fuels and hinder renewables, could leave the U.S. at a strategic disadvantage globally. “If he succeeds in doing it for very much longer, then, you know, a decade hence, the U.S. will be the Colonial Williamsburg of internal combustion, where foreign visitors come to gawk at how things happened in the olden times.”
The U.S. environmental movement saw significant legislative success during the previous administration with the Inflation Reduction Act. However, new legislation under President Trump has rolled back many of these renewable energy tax incentives, which Bapna termed a “Trump energy tax,” describing it as “Robin Hood in reverse.”
McKibben called this period “the darkest moment” for environmental efforts, citing increased deregulation and the promotion of coal. These setbacks have prompted environmental leaders to consider drastic changes in their advocacy approaches.
Can Global Climate Action Continue Without U.S. Leadership?
André Corrêa do Lago, the Brazilian diplomat overseeing global climate negotiations, reaffirmed that U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright would be welcome at the upcoming COP30 conference, despite the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement under the Trump administration.
Corrêa do Lago acknowledged Wright’s skepticism about the economic feasibility of climate mitigation, stating, “I think this is what we want to discuss. It’s what we have to discuss with oil companies, it’s what we have to discuss with many sectors of the economy that are understandably a little frightened of this transition.”
He also defended the long-standing consensus rules for climate targets but recognized they often cause “immense frustration” by allowing a few countries to obstruct progress. COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, marks ten years since the Paris Agreement. It convenes amidst a “global retreat from climate politics,” with challenges to emissions-slashing policies in Canada, Europe, and South America. A recent U.N. report showed no progress in cutting emissions, leading some to question the entire framework of climate diplomacy.
Al Gore on the Climate Movement’s Future
Former Vice President Al Gore, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and key figure in climate advocacy, shared his insights on the movement’s future. His 2006 documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” significantly raised global awareness of climate change.
In an interview, Gore discussed the impact of President Trump’s policies, which have pulled the U.S. away from global climate efforts, calling it a “problem from hell.” He attributes past difficulties to a “massive, decades-long campaign of denial and obstruction from the fossil fuel industry,” combined with systemic inertia within political and financial sectors.
Despite the current challenges, Gore maintains optimism, citing “Dornbusch’s Law” — that things take longer than expected but then happen faster than imagined. He believes the public’s understanding and concern about climate change have significantly increased over the past two decades, driven by more frequent and intense extreme weather events. He vividly described nightly news as “a nature hike through the Book of Revelation,” reflecting the unprecedented catastrophes unfolding globally.
Gore expressed deep concern about the Trump administration’s policies, particularly the increased subsidies for fossil fuels and attempts to dismantle clean energy incentives. He highlighted a striking parallel: global fossil fuel subsidies ($4.4 trillion annually) almost exactly match the estimated financing needed for a sustainable energy transition ($4.5 trillion). Eliminating these subsidies, he argued, could unlock the necessary resources.
When asked about the most concerning “tipping points,” Gore mentioned the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the mysterious disappearance of cold-water upwelling off South America. However, his ultimate hope lies in the burgeoning grassroots activism worldwide, which he believes is becoming the largest global movement in history.
He clarifies that while some disruptive tactics exist, he primarily champions active engagement: “communicating forcefully to elected officials and to candidates in every race for every office, that this has to be a priority for them.”
To those who feel overwhelmed, Gore offers a powerful antidote: action. He encourages engagement, stressing that a focus on damage should be balanced with “holding out a vision of what our future can be, with less pollution, more jobs, more hope, more positive feeling that the world is getting better rather than getting worse.” He remains optimistic that a surge in activism, coupled with international pressure, will drive the necessary political change, urging officials to choose the “hard right” over the “easy wrong.”
A Look at the Climate Forward Conference Speakers and Schedule
The 2025 Climate Forward conference ran from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Eastern time, featuring a diverse lineup of influential speakers. Below is a detailed overview of the panels:
9:15 a.m. – The High Stakes of COP30
André Corrêa do Lago, president of COP30 (United Nation’s climate talks in Brazil this November), addressed “economic denial” as a new challenge in the climate fight. With the U.S. retreating from climate action, global climate policy is at a precarious juncture as governments prepare to meet in the Amazon.
9:40 a.m. – The Future of Climate Activism in the Trump Era
As President Trump rolls back climate regulations, environmental groups are adapting. This panel featured Abigail Dillen (President, Earthjustice), Manish Bapna (President, Natural Resources Defense Council), and activist Bill McKibben, discussing evolving tactics and challenges.
10:15 a.m. – How to Bring Power to the World
Jacqueline Novogratz (CEO, Acumen) and Damilola Ogunbiyi (CEO, Sustainable Energy for All) explored strategies for delivering reliable, affordable energy to the millions globally who currently lack it.
10:49 a.m. – Will the A.I. Revolution Put Climate Goals at Risk?
Kate Brandt (Chief Sustainability Officer, Google) and Melanie Nakagawa (Chief Sustainability Officer, Microsoft) examined how AI’s rapid growth impacts sustainability and energy consumption, posing new challenges to global climate targets.
11:13 a.m. – When Climate Change is a National Security Threat
A conversation with Jake Sullivan (former National Security Adviser under President Joseph R. Biden Jr.) delved into how the U.S. and its allies prepare for a world with increasing climate-related threats, and the implications of China’s lead in clean energy development.
11:36 a.m. – Has the World Turned Against Climate Politics?
David Wallace-Wells delivered remarks based on his New York Times Magazine cover story, “It Isn’t Just the U.S. — The Whole World Has Soured on Climate Politics.” He discussed ongoing progress in reducing climate harm but questioned what new values or interests might define the next era of climate action.
11:45 a.m. – The Billionaire Betting on a Fossil-Free Future
Andrew Forrest (Executive Chairman, Fortescue), one of the world’s richest individuals, shared his ambitious vision to transition his massive mining company to net-zero emissions by 2030.
12:05 a.m. – The Nation That is Sinking into the Sea
President Hilda Heine of the Marshall Islands detailed her nation’s urgent struggle for survival against rising sea levels, discussing the limits of adaptation and the moral obligations of wealthier nations.
1:31 p.m. – Actor Rainn Wilson on Climate Change and Spirituality
Actor Rainn Wilson (“The Office”) shared his personal journey toward a more spiritually informed approach to the climate crisis, inspired by a fire ceremony with Indigenous elders and King Charles III in rural Britain. His live performance blended storytelling with orchestral music and original animations.
1:42 p.m. – The Big Power Shift
Scott Strazik (CEO, GE Vernova), a leader in gas infrastructure and wind power, discussed his company’s unique position amidst President Trump’s energy agenda, which targets offshore wind while promoting oil and gas.
2:05 p.m. – Gavin Newsom on Mr. Trump, California, and Climate
Governor Gavin Newsom of California highlighted the state’s leadership in climate policy and his efforts to counter the Trump administration’s environmental decisions, including strategies for implementing climate initiatives without federal funding.
2:52 p.m. – Secretary Chris Wright on Energy Politics Under Mr. Trump
Energy Secretary Chris Wright elaborated on the Trump administration’s agenda of deregulation and fossil fuel expansion, discussing its impact on energy policy, rising electricity demand, and the challenge of climate change.
3:18 p.m. – Are We on the Brink of a Fusion Breakthrough?
Bob Mumgaard (CEO, Commonwealth Fusion Systems) provided an update on the quest for fusion energy, long considered the ultimate clean, limitless power source, and how close his company is to building the world’s first commercial fusion power plant.
3:44 p.m. – Climate Change and Congress
Senator Brian Schatz (Democrat of Hawaii) explored the difficulties of translating climate ambition into effective policy and building political consensus in a divided Congress.
4:14 p.m. – Australia on the Forefront of Climate Change
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia discussed his country’s efforts to reduce emissions, balancing its reliance on fossil fuels with a push to become a global leader in renewables.