At the 2025 CPAC, conservative leaders, including Trump and Liz Truss, aggressively attacked climate policies and promoted fossil fuel agendas, dismissing scientific discussions on climate change. The event shifted focus away from evidence-based discourse to unabashed denial of climate challenges, while emphasizing energy production as key for technological advancements and national security.
The 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), held near Washington, D.C., showcased a strong pro-fossil fuel stance with significant participation from conservative leaders. Among the featured speakers were figures like Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk, and former Trump aide Steve Bannon. Donald Trump concluded the event with a speech asserting his opposition to climate agreements, specifically criticizing the Paris Agreement and the Green New Deal, which he dismissed as a “hoax.”
During his address, Trump misleadingly claimed to have canceled policies that never existed, including an electric vehicle mandate purportedly from President Biden. He concluded with comedic references to hydrogen vehicles, disregarding factual implications. This CPAC marked a shift from past events, where climate deniers presented scientific data, to a more unabashedly anti-climate agenda.
Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss used her platform to express frustration with the reinstatement of a fracking ban. She attributed the energy crisis in Britain to net-zero policies and lamented the closure of the last steel plants. Truss also echoed Trump’s accusations against a so-called deep state, calling for a restoration of parliamentary sovereignty and the repeal of various laws.
Chris Wright, US Energy Secretary and former fracking CEO, pledged to eliminate regulations hindering energy production, particularly targeting restrictions on fossil fuel appliances. He emphasized the need for energy to support AI technologies, illustrating the increasing nexus between energy production and technological advancement at CPAC.
Under the spotlight was Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, whose campaign ads aired during the event, signaling his political aspirations within the Trump administration. Dunleavy urged the audience to view Alaska’s resources as essential for addressing national energy challenges.
Doug Burgum, the new Secretary of the Interior, discussed strategies to enhance public land exploitation. His focus encompassed boosting energy production and reducing trade deficits through these measures, alluding to the potential for significant achievements under the Trump administration.
The CPAC exhibit hall featured mainly culture-focused organizations and saw a solitary presence from the climate-focused CFACT, which embraces a libertarian perspective on climate change. CFACT’s messaging aimed at countering left-leaning views and engaging younger demographics on college campuses, highlighting the necessity for diverse viewpoints.
The 2025 CPAC underscored a resurgence of pro-fossil fuel rhetoric among conservative leaders, with Donald Trump at the forefront, dismissing climate policies as fraudulent. The conference shifted from previous scientific discussions to an outright rejection of climate change, led by figures like Liz Truss and Chris Wright. Mike Dunleavy and Doug Burgum reinforced the embrace of energy dominance as central to future policies, while CFACT attempted to assert its presence in the climate discourse. Overall, CPAC 2025 reflects a concerted effort within the conservative movement to challenge climate initiatives and promote fossil fuel interests.
Original Source: whowhatwhy.org
