The New York Times’s annual Climate Forward conference is currently underway, bringing together a diverse group of world leaders, policymakers, business executives, and activists. A central focus of this year’s discussions is the profound influence of the Trump administration’s approach to climate policy, both domestically and internationally.
Under President Trump, the United States has noticeably stepped back from its previous role as a climate leader, shifting from the Biden administration’s proactive stance. The current administration is downplaying the seriousness of climate change threats while actively promoting fossil fuels. This reversal has led to significant changes, including a sweeping domestic policy bill that cut many tax incentives for renewable energy, a move labeled by some environmental leaders as a ‘Trump energy tax.’ Furthermore, environmental regulations have been slashed more aggressively than in his first term, with a continued emphasis on supporting coal and pushing American oil and gas internationally. This marks a critical moment where world leaders must grapple not only with a rapidly changing planet but also a drastically altered political landscape.
Environmental leaders at the conference acknowledge the need to adapt their strategies in this new political climate. While denying that the recent presidential election was solely a referendum on climate issues, figures like Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, stress the importance of connecting climate and clean energy solutions to everyday ‘kitchen-table issues’ that directly affect people’s lives. Activist and author Bill McKibben warns that the Trump administration’s efforts to slow the clean energy transition in the U.S. could leave the country strategically disadvantaged, likening it to a ‘Colonial Williamsburg of internal combustion’ in a world rapidly embracing renewables. Many view these recent setbacks as a ‘generational setback’ for the environmental movement, prompting calls for a serious re-evaluation of tactics.
The question of whether global climate action can succeed without consistent U.S. involvement is also a key discussion point. André Corrêa do Lago, the Brazilian diplomat overseeing the upcoming COP30 global climate negotiations in Belém, Brazil, highlights the challenge posed by those who deny the economic viability of climate action. He emphasizes the need to engage with industries hesitant about the transition. This year’s COP30 comes a decade after the Paris Agreement, set against a backdrop of a wider global retreat from ambitious climate politics, with emissions reductions facing hurdles even in countries like Canada and Europe. The frustration with consensus rules in international diplomacy, where a few nations can impede progress, is also a concern.
Former Vice President Al Gore, a pivotal figure in bringing climate change to public consciousness, shared his insights in an interview featured at the conference. Despite decades of effort, he acknowledges the immense difficulty of the challenge, famously calling it ‘the problem from hell.’ He points to the ‘massive, decades-long campaign of denial and obstruction from the fossil fuel industry’ and societal inertia as key obstacles. However, Gore maintains optimism, citing ‘Dornbusch’s Law’ that things often change slowly before accelerating rapidly. He highlights a significant increase in public understanding and concern about climate change, driven by the escalating frequency and intensity of extreme weather events worldwide. He stresses that environmental challenges also present economic opportunities, with investments in sustainability creating more jobs than the fossil fuel industry. Gore encourages ‘active engagement’ in grassroots movements, advocating for forceful communication to elected officials about prioritizing climate action, viewing activism as a vital antidote to despair.
The Climate Forward conference features a robust lineup of speakers, including California Governor Gavin Newsom discussing state-level climate leadership against federal rollbacks, Energy Secretary Chris Wright on the Trump administration’s energy policies, and discussions on the role of AI in sustainability, the future of fusion energy, and the unique climate challenges faced by nations like the Marshall Islands. These conversations underscore the complexity and urgency of addressing climate change amidst evolving political and technological landscapes.