U.S. officials skip global climate meetings, raising concerns about engagement

U.S. officials have been absent from recent international climate forums, signaling a possible shift in the Trump administration’s approach to global climate diplomacy.

Ben Stockton reports for The Guardian.

In short:

• Since Trump’s second term began, U.S. officials have skipped at least four United Nations climate meetings, including those on climate finance and support for developing nations.
• Trump blocked government scientists from attending an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) meeting, where experts are preparing a major climate report.
• The administration rescinded $4 billion pledged to the Green Climate Fund, which aids poorer nations in addressing climate change.

Key quote:

“It’s entirely possible that in Trump 2 the US simply won’t participate actively in the climate change negotiations.”

— Daniel Bodansky, professor of law at Arizona State University

Why this matters:

The absence of U.S. officials from global climate talks signals a retreat from international cooperation on climate action. Without U.S. leadership, other nations — potentially those with weaker climate commitments — may shape future policies. The decision to leave the Paris Agreement, combined with funding cuts, could slow global efforts to address rising temperatures, extreme weather, and environmental degradation.

Related: Donald Trump wins US presidency. What that could mean for the environment