This past Wednesday, during a significant climate summit at the United Nations, nearly every nation worldwide convened to present their updated commitments for curbing planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decade.
From major global players like China, Russia, Japan, and Germany to numerous small island nations and even the world’s most economically challenged countries such as Chad and the Central African Republic—everyone was present. Even nations like Venezuela, Syria, and Iran participated.
Conspicuously, the United States was absent.
Few global issues highlight America’s diplomatic isolation more sharply than climate change. President Trump’s outspoken opposition to renewable energy, voiced during his address at the United Nations General Assembly, stands in stark contrast to the global surge in wind and solar power development. Even major oil-producing nations, like Saudi Arabia, are rapidly expanding their solar energy capabilities.
As he inaugurated the summit on Wednesday, U.N. Secretary General António Guterres declared, “We are on the cusp of a new energy era.”
Central to the U.S. stance is the Trump administration’s core belief – a perspective largely rejected by economists, researchers, and political leaders globally – that shifting to renewable energy inevitably leads to economic decline.
“If you don’t abandon this green scam, your nation will face ruin,” Mr. Trump warned world leaders on Tuesday. He further urged countries, particularly those in Europe and Asia, to increase their purchases of American oil and natural gas. As the world’s leading producer of both fossil fuels, boosting these exports has been a key initiative for Mr. Trump.
The Paris Agreement, a 2015 accord aimed at mitigating global warming, requires nearly all participating nations to submit progressively ambitious plans for greenhouse gas reductions every five years. Wednesday’s summit felt much like global leaders submitting their somewhat delayed assignments.
While the Biden administration submitted an updated commitment just before Mr. Trump’s tenure began, one of Mr. Trump’s initial actions was to declare America’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
In stark contrast to Mr. Trump’s message, 121 nations at Wednesday’s climate summit were poised to commit to significant emissions cuts. Their motivations weren’t solely to combat catastrophic global warming, but also driven by the increasingly rapid decrease in renewable energy costs. In many instances, solar and wind power now generate electricity more economically than fossil fuel plants. This strengthens the argument that renewables can simultaneously foster economic growth and enhance energy security by reducing dependence on imported fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas.
This sentiment was echoed by Philip Davis, the Prime Minister of the Bahamas, during an event on Monday. He stated, “Decision-makers globally must grasp that transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy isn’t a trade-off for prosperity; it’s a fundamental requirement for future prosperity.”
Echoing this, Mr. Guterres famously labeled fossil fuels “a losing bet” in his Tuesday address at the General Assembly.
Among its initial actions, the Trump administration actively dismantled incentives for solar and wind development and electric vehicle adoption. It also accelerated permitting for new coal mines, natural gas export terminals, and other fossil fuel infrastructure projects.
Initially, global leaders expressed concerns that the Trump administration’s aggressive anti-renewable stance might cause a worldwide retreat from the energy transition. However, they have since reaffirmed their commitment to move forward, irrespective of U.S. participation.
Wopke Hoekstra, the European Union’s climate commissioner, confirmed that President Trump’s policies have not diminished the climate ambitions of other nations, including the 27 countries within his own bloc.
“We are pursuing the complete opposite of the U.S. approach, which I personally find troubling and problematic,” he remarked in a recent interview in New York City. He added, “The world’s most influential geopolitical power, its biggest economy, and its second-largest emitter, is essentially opting out.”
Wednesday’s most significant announcement originated from Beijing. China, currently the largest emitter of greenhouse gases due to its extensive coal consumption, also possesses world-leading solar and wind power industries. According to numerous studies, these industries are driving not only China’s own shift away from fossil fuels but also contributing significantly to the global energy transition.
Via video link on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping informed world leaders that China aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 7 to 10 percent from peak levels by 2035 – a peak it seems poised to reach this year. He further announced that China plans to boost its share of ‘non-fossil fuels’ to over 30 percent and to increase its installed wind and solar capacity sixfold by the same year.
Without directly mentioning the United States, Mr. Xi appeared to comment on its non-attendance at the climate summit. He asserted that while “some country is acting against” the transition to low-emissions fuels, “the international community should remain focused on the correct path.”
The European Union followed with its own declarations. Although its emissions-reduction commitment isn’t yet finalized, E.U. lawmakers have provisionally consented to cuts ranging from 66 to 72 percent by 2035, relative to 1990 levels. Mr. Hoekstra noted that these terms would be settled before the COP30 international climate talks commence in Brazil this November.
However, Europe’s climate goals face a significant challenge in balancing its relationship with the United States. During trade discussions with Washington, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged in August to purchase $750 billion worth of American fuels by the close of Mr. Trump’s term. Analysts suggest that fulfilling such a massive commitment, which they deem almost logistically impossible, would inevitably jeopardize the continent’s progress toward renewable energy.