At the 2025 CPAC, key conservative figures, including President Trump, aggressively promoted fossil fuel interests while denouncing climate policies such as the Paris Agreement and the Green New Deal. This year’s conference lacked scientific dialogue, focusing instead on unsubstantiated claims regarding climate issues. Notable speeches advocated for deregulation and energy independence, signaling a solidified conservative stance against environmental initiatives.
The 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) gathered prominent conservatives, including President Donald Trump, in February to promote a fossil fuel-driven agenda. Key speakers, such as Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, and Steve Bannon, underscored their commitment to the MAGA movement and denounced climate policies. Trump’s speech highlighted his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and his disavowal of the Green New Deal, labeling it a “hoax” that wasted “trillions of dollars.”
During his address, Trump falsely claimed he had canceled an electric vehicle mandate and remarked on hydrogen-powered cars inappropriately, reinforcing the conference’s emphasis on anti-environmental remarks. Unlike previous years, discussions lacked scientific credibility, and there were no sessions focused on the science of climate change, illustrating a shift towards unsubstantiated climate denial.
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss, a speaker at CPAC, expressed her frustration regarding the restoration of a fracking ban, attributing rising energy prices to net-zero policies. She emphasized the need to repeal various laws, maintaining a common stance with Trump against the so-called “deep state.”
Chris Wright, U.S. Energy Secretary, echoed Trump’s energy policies, promising deregulation that encourages higher production. He also criticized perceived restrictions on fossil fuel appliances, positioning energy production as crucial amid increasing competition with China, notably in AI energy demands.
Mike Dunleavy, Governor of Alaska, used the platform to promote a liquefied natural gas pipeline project, connecting Alaska’s resources to Asian markets instead of the Continental United States. Doug Burgum, the new Secretary of the Interior, outlined ambition to exploit public lands and claimed this strategy would help alleviate trade deficits and foreign conflicts.
The exhibit hall at CPAC featured organizations contrasting with previous years, focusing more on cultural issues while only including CFACT, a conservative think tank committed to climate change skepticism. CFACT aimed to address perceived biases in educational institutions, promoting different viewpoints on climate science. Although Myers disclaimed affiliations with prominent donors like Koch, CFACT has historically received support from various conservative funding sources.
The 2025 CPAC highlighted a unified front among prominent conservatives against climate policies, emphasizing deregulation and fossil fuel expansion. Trump and other speakers focused on discrediting previous climate initiatives and advocating for energy independence, delineating a clear divergence from scientific discussions on climate change. The conference’s shift to purely anti-climate rhetoric reflects a broader trend within the conservative movement toward skepticism and denial of climate science, potentially affecting future policy directions.
Original Source: www.desmog.com
