At the 2025 CPAC, Donald Trump and major conservative figures criticized climate policies and promoted fossil fuel deregulation. Trump denounced the Paris Agreement and the Green New Deal while unlikely policy claims dominated his speech. Former UK PM Liz Truss and Secretary Chris Wright emphasized energy independence and regulatory rollbacks, while Alaska Governor Dunleavy seeks to leverage energy projects for political ambitions. CFACT represented the lone climate focus at the conference, advocating conservative perspectives.
In February 2025, conservatives gathered at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, D.C., rallying behind President Donald Trump, non-elected billionaire Elon Musk, and a pro-fossil fuel deregulation agenda. Prominent MAGA figures, including Vice President JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson, voiced support for Trump, who criticized climate policies such as the Paris Agreement and the Green New Deal, claiming they were disastrous and economically detrimental, despite the latter not being enacted.
During his address, Trump falsely asserted that he rescinded a nonexistent electric vehicle mandate and made unsubstantiated claims regarding hydrogen cars, humorously suggesting they pose a safety risk. His comments underscored a shift in CPAC’s focus from scientific climate denialism to an overt anti-climate stance, lacking the usual data-driven discussions.
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss expressed frustration about her inability to lift the fracking ban during her brief tenure. She lamented Britain’s high energy prices due to net-zero policies and the closure of the country’s last steel plant, calling for significant policy reforms to dismantle what she termed the ‘deep state,’ emphasizing the need to restore parliamentary sovereignty and eradicate judicial activism.
Chris Wright, U.S. Energy Secretary, proclaimed Trump’s energy policy centered on increased production and regulatory rollbacks. He highlighted the importance of energy for AI technologies and criticized the perception that Biden’s administration aimed to ban gas stoves, which was misleading. The theme of energy competition with China also emerged prominently during the conference.
The conference highlighted the ambitions of Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, who is positioning himself for a Senate run while promoting energy projects, including a $44 billion liquified natural gas pipeline primarily targeting Asian markets. Dunleavy noted Trump’s acknowledgment of Alaska as a critical solutions provider for U.S. energy issues.
Trump’s newly appointed Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, announced prioritizing the exploitation of public lands to enhance energy dominance while aiming to reduce trade deficits. With extensive ties to the oil and gas industry, Burgum emphasized collaboration with Trump and Wright on strategies for regulatory reform. Burgum also expressed aspirations for a Nobel Prize related to energy initiatives.
CFACT, a conservative libertarian group, was the sole entity at CPAC focused on climate issues. Its representative, Nate Meyers, dismissed the consensus on climate science, advocating for alternative perspectives among youth. CFACT, which operates 32 campus groups, aims to counter what it perceives as a leftist dominance in academia, promoting conservative viewpoints on climate change.
The 2025 CPAC underscored conservative leaders’ commitment to rejecting climate policies and promoting fossil fuel interests. Notable speeches showcased a pivot from previous climate skepticism to outspoken denial and regulatory rollbacks. Additionally, figures like Liz Truss and Chris Wright highlighted the emphasis on energy production while future political ambitions, particularly those of Governor Dunleavy, emerged as potential catalysts for further fossil fuel projects. CFACT’s presence illustrated the continued struggle for conservative narratives in the climate discourse, particularly among youth.
Original Source: www.desmog.com
