The New York Times’ annual Climate Forward event is in full swing, bringing together a diverse group of world leaders, policymakers, business innovators, and passionate activists. A central theme dominating conversations this year is undoubtedly the Trump administration’s evolving stance on climate policy.
During the opening session, André Corrêa do Lago, Brazil’s diplomat leading this year’s United Nations climate negotiations, extended a welcome to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. This invitation comes despite the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, highlighting a complex diplomatic landscape. Secretary Wright is scheduled to join the Climate Forward event later today.
Just last year, the United States was at the forefront of climate leadership under the Biden administration. Now, it has visibly stepped back, with President Trump’s policies downplaying the severity of climate change and actively promoting fossil fuels. This shift arrives at a critical juncture, as the world faces another year of record-breaking temperatures and devastating climate-fueled disasters. Global leaders are grappling not only with a rapidly changing planet but also with a significantly altered political environment.
Compounding these challenges is the surging global energy demand, partly driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, China is rapidly emerging as a dominant force in clean energy innovation, particularly in areas like battery and solar power technologies.
The conference agenda promises engaging dialogues, including sessions with California Governor Gavin Newsom and Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a company at the forefront of developing the world’s first commercial fusion power plant. For a deeper dive into the event, you can find details on the full speaker lineup, daily schedule, and panel overviews.
Further Insights:
- Diverse Perspectives: We’ve gathered insights from various global leaders on how they are navigating climate action in the wake of the U.S. withdrawal from international efforts. You can read all of the interviews.
- The Climate Forward Podcast: Our inaugural podcast episode features a compelling conversation with former Vice President Al Gore, reflecting on the climate movement’s journey two decades after his groundbreaking documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” The podcast is available on major platforms.
- Your Burning Questions: We received numerous excellent climate-related questions from our audience, some of which will be addressed live on stage.
- Stay Informed: Sign up for the Climate Forward newsletter to receive ongoing updates and analyses.
Al Gore Reflects on the Climate Movement’s Path Forward
Podcast: “Al Gore on Trump and the Future of Climate Action”
Former Vice President Al Gore, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a central figure in bringing climate change to public consciousness, shares his perspective on the critical issues facing our planet. His Oscar-winning 2006 documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” significantly propelled global climate action.
However, the Trump administration has notably reversed the U.S. commitment to the global climate fight. In this conversation, we explore the future of environmental efforts in a rapidly warming world.
This exclusive podcast series from The New York Times features insightful discussions with world leaders, business executives, and policymakers tackling the climate crisis, recorded live at the annual Climate Forward conference in New York City.
Key insights from the discussion:
The Climate Forward podcast, brought to you by our generous sponsors, opens with Managing Correspondent David Gelles introducing the annual Climate Forward Summit. He notes that President Trump’s policies are a key focus, particularly the U.S. withdrawal from global climate efforts, the rollback of environmental regulations, and the promotion of fossil fuels, all contributing to a perceived crisis within the environmental movement.
Gelles highlights Al Gore’s decades-long dedication to climate issues, referencing his influential work including “An Inconvenient Truth,” which brought climate change into the mainstream and earned him a Nobel Peace Prize. Despite these efforts, Gelles points out that planet-warming emissions and global temperatures continue to rise, leading to worsening extreme weather events. During their conversation, Gore described climate change as “the problem from hell.”
The discussion delved into the state of the climate movement, the escalating extreme weather, the Trump administration’s impact on U.S. climate policy, and the persistent subsidies supporting fossil fuels. Gore also shared where he finds hope in the next generation of grassroots leaders and his vision for effective climate action today.
Gelles initiated the discussion by asking why, after so much effort, progress has been slow since Gore’s 2006 documentary. Gore attributed this largely to the “massive, decades-long campaign of denial and obstruction from the fossil fuel industry,” which he believes holds significant influence over policy. He also cited systemic inertia, noting that 80% of global energy still comes from fossil fuels, and a substantial part of the financial sector is intertwined with fossil fuel deals.
Gore shared his long-held belief in “Dornbusch’s Law”—that change often starts slowly but then accelerates unexpectedly. He expressed faith that the world would reach an “inflection point” in addressing the climate crisis, despite the current uncertainty.
Regarding public perception, Gore firmly believes that people’s understanding and concern about climate change have significantly deepened over the past two decades. He vividly described recent extreme weather events, such as “12 once-in-a-thousand-year climate-related extreme events in the U.S. in three days,” as Mother Nature’s undeniable contribution to the discussion. He likened the nightly news to “a nature hike through the Book of Revelation,” portraying a world facing unprecedented catastrophes.
Gelles recounted a previous conversation with Gore during Trump’s inauguration, where Gore predicted dire outcomes for climate policy. Nine months later, Gore confirmed that the situation was indeed worse than expected, citing pollution control rollbacks, fossil fuel expansion, censorship of federal climate scientists, and the U.S. withdrawal from international climate efforts. Gore specifically highlighted the “increasing subsidies for fossil fuel and the increasing policy favors for fossil fuels” as the most troubling aspects, noting that these subsidies ($4.4 trillion annually) almost perfectly match the estimated cost of energy transition ($4.5 trillion annually).
When asked if Energy Secretary Chris Wright’s skepticism about climate threats was disingenuous, Gore referenced Upton Sinclair: “it’s difficult to get a man to understand something if his income depends upon him not understanding it.” He applied this to the broader global inertia on climate action.
Gore expressed concern over the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and the mysterious disappearance of cold water upwelling off South America’s West Coast, viewing these as alarming “tipping points” that scientists are actively studying. Despite the gravity of these threats, he finds immense hope in the “largest global grassroots movement in history,” driven by skilled and dedicated activists. He clarifies that his preferred activism involves “communicating forcefully to elected officials and to candidates…that this has to be a priority for them,” rather than disruptive public protests.
Acknowledging that dire warnings can sometimes disengage people, Gore emphasized the need for a hopeful vision. He highlighted economic data suggesting that investments in sustainability create three times more jobs than investments in fossil fuels. He asserted that focusing on a future with “less pollution, more jobs, more hope, more positive feeling” is what truly excites people and combats despair. His personal antidote to despair is always action, urging everyone to “activating yourself, doing something, joining movements and networks that are pushing in the right direction.”
Gore believes that a surge in activism, coupled with international pressure, will ultimately lead to solutions. He expressed optimism that collective action can “help change the minds of wavering elected officials who are right now on the cusp of deciding between the hard right and the easy wrong.”
This concludes today’s show. Stay tuned for more conversations from the Climate Forward event throughout the week. This episode was produced and edited by Evan Roberts, mixed by Alyssa Jane Moxley, with original music by Daniel Powell. Special thanks to the Climate Forward event team.
Meet the Visionaries at the 2025 Climate Forward Conference
The 2025 Climate Forward conference is scheduled for Wednesday, running from 9:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Eastern time, with a live stream available for remote attendees. Below is a detailed schedule and brief descriptions of each panel and its distinguished speakers:
9:15 a.m. – The High Stakes of COP30
As president of COP30, the United Nation’s upcoming climate talks in Brazil this November, André Corrêa do Lago characterizes “economic denial” as the new frontier in the climate battle. With global governments preparing to convene in the heart of the Amazon in less than two months, and the U.S. scaling back its climate commitments, the state of global climate policy is highly precarious.
9:40 a.m. – The Future of Climate Activism in the Trump Era
In response to President Trump’s deregulation of climate policies, environmental organizations are adapting their strategies, with some retrenching and others reducing operations. This panel features Abigail Dillen, president of Earthjustice; Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council; and activist and author Bill McKibben, who will discuss these evolving tactics.
10:15 a.m. – How to Bring Power to the World
Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen (a nonprofit focused on global poverty), and Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, will explore strategies to deliver reliable, affordable energy to the millions worldwide who currently lack it.
10:49 a.m. – Will the A.I. Revolution Put Climate Goals at Risk?
Kate Brandt and Melanie Nakagawa, chief sustainability officers at Google and Microsoft respectively, will address how Artificial Intelligence is transforming industries and accelerating innovation while also bringing new challenges for sustainability and energy consumption, and what it will take to power the A.I. revolution without jeopardizing global climate targets, especially as tech companies’ emissions rise.
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., will delve into how the United States and its allies are preparing for a world where escalating temperatures translate into heightened threats. The discussion will also cover the growing rivalry with China, a nation with a significant lead in clean energy development.
11:36 a.m. – Has the World Turned Against Climate Politics?
David Wallace-Wells will present insights adapted from his recent New York Times Magazine cover story, “It Isn’t Just the U.S. — The Whole World Has Soured on Climate Politics.” He will highlight ongoing progress in mitigating climate harm while questioning which values might replace the solidarity once fostered by the Paris Accord, and which nations or interests will define this new era of climate action.
11:45 a.m. – The Billionaire Betting on a Fossil-Free Future
Andrew Forrest, executive chairman of Fortescue and one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, shares his ambitious, perhaps improbable, vision to transition his massive mining company to net-zero emissions by 2030.
12:05 p.m. – The Nation That Is Sinking Into the Sea
The Marshall Islands face an existential threat as rising sea levels put the entire nation at risk of submersion. President Hilda Heine will describe the urgent struggle for survival, the limitations of adaptation strategies, and the moral obligations wealthier nations have towards countries on the verge of climate catastrophe.
1:31 p.m. – Actor Rainn Wilson on Climate Change and Spirituality
Actor Rainn Wilson, known for his role in “The Office,” will share his spiritually informed perspective on the climate crisis. He recounts attending a fire ceremony in rural Britain with Indigenous elders and King Charles III, organized by Grounded, an environmental group he supports. His live performance will link climate change and spirituality, accompanied by orchestral music and original animations.
1:42 p.m. – The Big Power Shift
Scott Strazik, CEO of GE Vernova (a leader in gas infrastructure and wind power systems), finds himself at the nexus of Mr. Trump’s energy and climate agenda. As Trump wages war on the offshore wind industry while championing oil and gas, Strazik will discuss his company’s unique position amidst these tumultuous changes.
2:05 p.m. – Gavin Newsom on Mr. Trump, California and Climate
California Governor Gavin Newsom will outline his state’s pivotal role in setting national climate policy standards and his efforts to counter President Trump’s environmental policies. A key question for discussion is whether state leaders can effectively implement climate policy without federal financial support.
2:52 p.m. – Secretary Chris Wright on Energy Politics Under Mr. Trump
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, known for promoting a Trumpian agenda of deregulation and fossil fuel expansion, will discuss the ramifications of these policies. He will also address how his department is confronting energy policy, rising electricity demand, and the overarching challenge of climate change.
3:18 p.m. – Are We on the Brink of a Fusion Breakthrough?
Fusion energy has long been envisioned as the ultimate clean, limitless, yet perpetually elusive climate solution. Bob Mumgaard, CEO of Commonwealth Fusion Systems, which is developing the world’s first commercial fusion power plant, will provide an update on how close we truly are to integrating this technology into the energy grid.
3:44 p.m. – Climate Change and Congress
Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) will discuss the formidable challenges of transforming climate aspirations into sustainable policy. He will also explore what it takes to build political consensus and will in a deeply divided U.S. Congress.
4:14 p.m. – Australia on the Forefront of Climate Change
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will address Australia’s significant challenge in curbing emissions. Despite its reliance on fossil fuels, with coal generating nearly half of its electricity, Albanese remains a vocal advocate for Australia to lead globally in reducing emissions and embracing renewable energy sources.