At the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference, President Trump and other right-wing leaders vehemently opposed climate protections, promoting deregulation in favor of fossil fuels. Trump criticized actions like the Paris Agreement and the Green New Deal, framing them as detrimental to the economy. The event lacked scientific discussions on climate change, focusing instead on populist and energy-dominant rhetoric.
The 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), held in February outside Washington, D.C., showcased a range of right-wing speakers who voiced opposition to climate protection policies. Among those present were President Donald Trump, who touted his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and criticized the Green New Deal, denouncing it as a costly “hoax.” Throughout the event, prominent figures, including Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, rallied for deregulation in favor of fossil fuels.
Trump’s speech at CPAC highlighted his administration’s anti-climate initiatives, including the false claim regarding Biden’s nonexistent electric vehicle mandate. He characterized climate policies he opposed as detrimental, declaring, “I terminated the Green New Scam” while making unsubstantiated remarks about hydrogen cars. The conference lacked scientific discourse on climate change, focusing instead on anti-climate rhetoric.
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss called for an end to the fracking ban reinstated by her successor. Truss criticized environmental policies as detrimental to the energy industry, stating, “We have net-zero policies that have decimated our oil and gas industry.” She echoed Trump’s sentiment against the “deep state” and called for a comprehensive bill to repeal many laws impacting energy production.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright emphasized Trump’s approach to deregulation, promising the removal of fossil fuel restrictions implemented by the Biden administration. He also mentioned that energy demands from artificial intelligence would create significant benefits. The conference illustrated a continued alignment with anti-regulatory rhetoric focused on fossil fuels and energy independence.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy’s potential Senate run was highlighted during CPAC, with advertisements featuring Trump emphasizing energy projects involving Alaska. Dunleavy claimed, “Trump sees us [Alaska] as a solution to many of America’s problems.” The proposed $44 billion liquefied natural gas pipeline project aims to direct energy to Asian customers instead of the continental U.S.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum discussed his commitment to exploiting public lands to support energy dominance in the U.S. He claimed this initiative would address trade deficits while positioning Trump favorably for a Nobel Prize. The newly formed National Energy Dominance Council, led by Burgum, aims to streamline energy regulatory processes.
In the CPAC exhibit hall, the only climate-focused group was CFACT, a conservative think tank. CFACT’s representative expressed skepticism toward the scientific consensus on climate change, asserting, “It’s not settled at all.” The organization aims to provide alternative viewpoints on college campuses, countering what they perceive as a liberal bias in higher education.
The 2025 CPAC underscored a strong alignment among conservative leaders towards promoting fossil fuel interests and dismantling existing climate regulations. With rhetoric focusing on deregulation, anti-environmental policies, and the denouncement of scientific consensus on climate change, the conference highlighted a shift away from traditional conservative discourse towards an unabashedly populist, pro-energy stance. The involvement of international speakers and the support for fossil fuel initiatives affirm the growing influence of such ideologies within global conservative movements.
Original Source: whowhatwhy.org
