Energy Secretary Chris Wright asserted on Wednesday that other nations should ‘absolutely’ follow the United States’ lead by exiting the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Speaking at The New York Times’s Climate Forward live journalism event, Mr. Wright critiqued supporters of the landmark global pact, suggesting they have ‘lost sight of the interests of their own people.’ This statement came as world leaders, including China’s President Xi Jinping, gathered in Midtown Manhattan, just a few blocks away, to pledge intensified efforts against global warming.
This striking contrast highlighted the Trump administration’s significant isolation on climate change. President Trump had previously announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris accord, aligning the country with only Iran, Libya, and Yemen. His administration also implemented policies designed to hinder renewable energy projects, such as halting offshore wind farm construction.
Mr. Wright, a former fracking executive, argued for increased global reliance on fossil fuels, citing their affordability and reliability compared to renewables. He also defended the administration’s stance on renewable energy, claiming widespread opposition, despite polls showing strong public support for wind and solar power. While these technologies have seen rapid growth, some communities are indeed raising concerns about land use and property values.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations, President Xi Jinping of China made a historic commitment to reduce his country’s substantial greenhouse gas emissions, aiming for a 7 to 10 percent cut by 2035. European Union Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra expressed ‘concerning and problematic’ views on the U.S. position, emphasizing that the rest of the world is forging ahead with climate action.
President Trump had earlier dismissed climate change as the ‘greatest con job ever’ and called renewable energy ‘a joke.’ California’s Governor Gavin Newsom sharply criticized these remarks at the Climate Forward event, calling them an ‘abomination,’ ’embarrassment,’ and ‘fraud.’
Governor Newsom also condemned the Energy Department’s decision to reclaim $13 billion in unspent clean-energy funds from the Biden administration, labeling it a ‘betrayal’ that would benefit China. Jake Sullivan, former national security adviser, echoed this concern, noting that cutting federal incentives for green technologies like batteries would inadvertently empower China in crucial areas, including artificial intelligence.
Earlier, Hilda Heine, President of the Marshall Islands, extended an invitation to President Trump to witness firsthand the severe impacts of rising global temperatures and sea levels on her low-lying island nation, where the population has significantly declined due to climate-induced displacement. Similarly, Andrew Forrest, executive chairman of Australia’s Fortescue mining company, invited President Trump to observe the climate damage affecting his extensive land holdings in Australia, appealing to him as a fellow businessman.