The Climate Forward live event is underway, bringing together a diverse group of world leaders, policymakers, business leaders, and activists. A central theme dominating discussions this year is the Trump administration’s profound influence on climate policy globally.
During the event’s initial session, **André Corrêa do Lago**, Brazil’s diplomat overseeing the upcoming United Nations climate negotiations (COP30), extended an invitation to U.S. Energy Secretary **Chris Wright**. This welcome comes despite the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris Agreement. Corrêa do Lago highlighted Wright’s skepticism regarding the economic feasibility of climate mitigation, emphasizing that such views are precisely what need to be discussed openly with various economic sectors apprehensive about the energy transition. He also defended the necessity of unanimous consensus in global climate talks, even while acknowledging the frustrations it can cause when a few nations hinder progress.
Just last year, under the Biden administration, the United States aimed to be a climate leader. However, the Trump administration has since reversed course, downplaying climate change threats and actively promoting fossil fuels. This shift occurs as global temperatures continue to break records, and climate-fueled disasters intensify, leaving world leaders to navigate a rapidly changing planet and a drastically altered political environment. Compounding these challenges are rising energy demands, partly driven by artificial intelligence, and China’s commanding lead in developing clean energy technologies like batteries and solar power.
A key highlight of the event is a conversation with former Vice President **Al Gore**, a pivotal figure in bringing climate change into public discourse, notably with his Oscar-winning 2006 documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth.’ Gore, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, shared his perspectives on the climate movement’s trajectory, particularly in the wake of President Trump’s environmental policy rollbacks. He criticized the fossil fuel industry’s ‘decades-long campaign of denial and obstruction’ and pointed to the immense financial subsidies ($4.4 trillion annually) propping up fossil fuels, nearly matching the estimated $4.5 trillion needed for a global energy transition. Gore expressed optimism, citing ‘Dornbusch’s Law’—that change, while slow to start, can accelerate rapidly, evident in the growing global grassroots climate movement and the economic opportunities in sustainability. He emphasized that direct engagement with elected officials and continuous activism are crucial antidotes to despair, advocating for a hopeful vision of a cleaner, more prosperous future.
Throughout the day, the conference features an impressive lineup of speakers addressing various critical aspects of climate action:
* **The High Stakes of COP30:** André Corrêa do Lago discusses ‘economic denial’ as a new barrier to climate progress, especially as nations prepare for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, ten years after the Paris Agreement.
* **Future of Climate Activism:** **Abigail Dillen** (Earthjustice), **Manish Bapna** (NRDC), and activist and author **Bill McKibben** explore changing tactics for environmental groups in the Trump era.
* **Global Energy Access:** **Jacqueline Novogratz** (Acumen) and **Damilola Ogunbiyi** (Sustainable Energy for All) debate strategies for bringing affordable, reliable energy to millions.
* **AI and Climate Goals:** **Kate Brandt** (Google) and **Melanie Nakagawa** (Microsoft) examine how AI can accelerate innovation while addressing its energy demands and potential risks to climate targets.
* **Climate Change as National Security Threat:** **Jake Sullivan** discusses U.S. and allied preparations for climate-driven threats and the clean energy rivalry with China.
* **World’s Stance on Climate Politics:** **David Wallace-Wells** presents insights on the global retreat from climate politics and potential new frameworks for action.
* **Billionaire’s Fossil-Free Future:** **Andrew Forrest** (Fortescue) shares his ambitious vision for shifting his mining company to net-zero emissions by 2030.
* **Marshall Islands’ Fight for Survival:** President **Hilda Heine** details the urgent reality for her nation facing rising sea levels, adaptation limits, and the responsibilities of wealthier nations.
* **Actor Rainn Wilson on Climate and Spirituality:** Actor **Rainn Wilson** discusses his spiritually informed approach to the climate crisis through a live performance.
* **The Big Power Shift:** **Scott Strazik** (GE Vernova) navigates the complexities of Mr. Trump’s energy agenda, balancing offshore wind opposition with fossil fuel promotion.
* **Gavin Newsom on California’s Climate Leadership:** Governor **Gavin Newsom** discusses California’s role in setting climate policy standards and its efforts to counter federal environmental rollbacks, exploring state-level climate action without federal funding.
* **Secretary Chris Wright on Energy Politics:** Energy Secretary **Chris Wright** explains the Trump administration’s deregulation and fossil fuel expansion policies and their impact on energy demand and climate.
* **Fusion Breakthrough?** **Bob Mumgaard** (Commonwealth Fusion Systems) provides an update on the progress towards the world’s first commercial fusion power plant.
* **Climate Change and Congress:** Senator **Brian Schatz**, Democrat of Hawaii, discusses the challenges of building political will and durable climate policy in a divided Congress.
* **Australia’s Climate Forefront:** Prime Minister **Anthony Albanese** addresses Australia’s emissions reduction challenges and its ambition to lead in renewables despite fossil fuel reliance.
This comprehensive event underscores the urgent need for global collaboration and innovative solutions to address the escalating climate crisis, even as political landscapes continue to shift dramatically.