In a contentious address to the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed climate change as a “con job” and sharply criticized global efforts to combat environmental degradation. His remarks came as leaders from climate-vulnerable nations, including small island states facing rising sea levels, listened in the chamber.
Trump condemned renewable energy sources, calling wind power a “joke,” and accused the UN of promoting what he described as “ideological extremism” under the guise of climate action. He argued that international climate policies unfairly burden industrial economies and undermine energy independence.
The comments drew visible concern from representatives of nations already grappling with climate-induced displacement and infrastructure loss. Several leaders from Pacific and Caribbean island nations later reiterated the urgency of global cooperation, citing rising sea levels, intensifying storms, and shrinking coastlines.
Trump’s speech underscores the administration’s continued skepticism toward multilateral climate initiatives, including the Paris Agreement, which the U.S. formally exited in 2020 and has not rejoined. His remarks stand in contrast to growing international consensus on the need for accelerated climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Climate Change. Credit: Midia Ninja, CC BY 4.0.
