The 2025 CPAC showcased President Trump and other conservatives advocating for a deregulated fossil fuel agenda while denouncing climate policies like the Green New Deal and international agreements. The conference lacked scientific discourse, emphasizing anti-climate sentiment and promoting political ambitions among attendees. Energy deregulation and the utilization of natural resources were primary focuses, reflecting the party’s ongoing commitment to fossil fuels in contemporary policy discussions.
At the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in mid-February, President Donald Trump dominated discussions on climate policy. Alongside supporters including Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, Trump reiterated his commitment to fossil fuel deregulation. He criticized the Paris Agreement and dismissed the Green New Deal as a costly hoax, emphasizing his administration’s goal to reverse climate initiatives under the Biden administration.
During his speech, Trump lambasted nonexistent policies such as a supposed electric vehicle mandate, misrepresenting Biden’s pollution regulations. He made erroneous claims about hydrogen cars, stating they were dangerous despite no evidence to support such assertions. Trump’s rhetoric was indicative of a broader trend at CPAC where substantive scientific discourse on climate change was notably absent, replaced by an embrace of anti-environmental sentiment.
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, a speaker at CPAC, expressed her frustration over the reinstatement of the fracking ban in the UK. Truss criticized net-zero policies for harming her country’s energy sector and called for a legislative overhaul to eliminate regulations she viewed as detrimental. Her comments resonated with the conference’s focus on dismantling regulatory frameworks perceived as barriers to energy production.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright reinforced the pro-fossil fuel agenda on the first day, advocating for significant deregulation to promote energy production. He highlighted the need for energy resources to support artificial intelligence, revealing the intersection of energy policy and technological advancement. This priority aligns with Trump’s agenda to enhance American global standing in AI technologies.
The conference also showcased political aspirations, particularly from Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, who appears poised to transition to a national role. Dunleavy highlighted Alaskan resources’ potential to resolve energy challenges for the U.S. and abroad, promoting a $44 billion liquefied natural gas project aimed primarily at Asian markets.
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum outlined plans to exploit public lands and touted initiatives intended to resolve trade deficits and contribute to national energy independence. Burgum’s comments suggest a commitment to aggressive development policies that may have lasting impacts on environmental regulation and public land use.
The conference featured the lone climate-focused group, CFACT, which rejected widely accepted climate science. According to CFACT’s national coordinator, the organization aims to challenge the prevailing narrative on college campuses, which they claim are dominated by leftist ideologies. Despite previous affiliations with significant donors, the group maintains a focus on grassroots support without explicit admissions of backing from notable funders.
The 2025 CPAC highlighted a stark departure from scientific discussions on climate change, emphasizing a unifying anti-regulatory, pro-fossil fuel stance among conservatives. Key figures like Trump and Truss promoted deregulation policies while dismissing factual climate discussions. The evolving political ambitions of attendees, alongside aggressive energy production initiatives, indicate a continued commitment to fossil fuels, further steering the Republican agenda away from environmental accountability.
Original Source: www.desmog.com
