Trump at CPAC 2025: An Antithesis to Climate Policy

At CPAC 2025, prominent conservative figures, including Donald Trump and Liz Truss, advocated for the repeal of climate protections and emphasized fossil fuel deregulation. Trump’s claims about climate policies were largely unfounded, indicating a departure from scientific discourse. The event reflected a unified stance against climate action, prioritizing economic and energy interests over environmental considerations, with minimal representation of scientific viewpoints.

In February 2025, the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) convened near Washington, DC, bringing together notable right-wing figures, including former President Donald Trump. The event showcased a unified stance against climate policy, underscored by Trump’s remarks about the Paris Agreement and the Green New Deal, which he labeled as significant disasters. His rhetoric emphasized a commitment to fossil fuel deregulation and the rejection of progressive environmental standards.

Trump’s speech was characterized by a lack of concrete policy proposals, relying instead on previously unfounded claims about his predecessor’s electric vehicle mandate. Following his address, he maintained a tone of skepticism towards scientific discussions on climate, reflecting the broader climate denial themes prevalent at this year’s CPAC, which featured fewer scientifically grounded debates than in past gatherings.

Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss contributed to the anti-climate narrative by voicing her opposition to fracking bans and criticizing net-zero policies that she claimed harmed Britain’s energy sector. Her statements highlighted an alignment with Trump’s approach to dismantling environmental protections, emphasizing a desire to overhaul legislation limiting the fossil fuel industry.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright echoed the conference’s pro-fossil fuel sentiments, promoting deregulation measures and discussing the energy demands of artificial intelligence technologies. He cautioned against allowing China to dominate the AI sector, linking energy independence to national security concerns and emphasizing the imperative to expedite fossil fuel production.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s political ambitions surfaced at the conference, with advertisements showcasing collaboration with Trump to expand Alaska’s resource extraction capabilities. He highlighted energy projects aimed at Asian markets instead of domestic supply, underlining a focus on international energy partnerships as part of their broader agenda.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced initiatives to exploit public lands more extensively, aiming to eliminate trade deficits and provide new resources for allies. He suggested that these efforts might lead to significant recognition for Trump, including a Nobel Prize for Energy Dominance.

The exhibit hall at CPAC featured primarily culture-war focused groups, with only CFACT representing climate-related interests. Their national coordinator positioned climate change as an unsettled issue, reflecting a broader skepticism among conservatives about environmental science. CFACT’s outreach efforts aim to represent alternative viewpoints within academia, seeking to counter perceived leftist dominance on college campuses.

Overall, CPAC 2025 represented a consolidated position against climate policies, signaling a reinforcement of conservative advocacy for deregulation and resource extraction, while dismissing scientific discourse surrounding climate change.

The CPAC 2025 event underscored a unified conservative opposition to climate policy, featuring prominent figures advocating for fossil fuel deregulation and a rejection of established environmental agreements. The rhetoric from leaders such as Trump, Truss, and Wright emphasized a commitment to traditional energy sources, while dismissing scientific perspectives on climate change as unfounded. This gathering illustrated a strategic pivot within the conservative movement, reinforcing climate denial and prioritizing economic interests over environmental concerns. The presence of CFACT as the sole climate organization at the conference further highlighted the diminished space for scientific discussion within the conservative agenda, showcasing a concerted effort to capture young minds on college campuses and promote a transformed environmental narrative.

Original Source: whowhatwhy.org