US Energy Secretary Criticizes COP30 as World Leaders Decry American Absence
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has openly criticized the ongoing COP30 climate summit, calling it a “hoax” during remarks at a business conference in Athens, Greece. His comments underscore growing tensions in international climate policy as the United States remains largely absent from the talks in Belem, Brazil.
The White House confirmed that no senior officials would attend the UN-sponsored summit, drawing sharp criticism from global leaders. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described inaction on climate change as a “moral failure,” while the World Meteorological Organization warned that 2025 is on track to be one of the hottest years on record.
Latin American leaders condemned the U.S. stance. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro criticized the absence as “against humanity,” while Brazil’s President Lula expressed hope that Washington might reconsider its position on green energy.
The current U.S. administration has emphasized “energy dominance,” focusing on expanding fossil fuel production and rolling back environmental regulations, including withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement. This approach contrasts sharply with global efforts to combat climate change and leaves a leadership gap at a crucial moment for international climate action.
As COP30 continues without participation from one of the world’s largest emitters, experts warn that achieving coordinated progress on emissions reduction and sustainable energy faces added challenges.
