The absence of an invitation for Trump regarding climate matters

President Donald Trump's withdrawal from climate diplomacy.

Now, it appears he is being excluded from climate discussions altogether. This shift was evident during a recent virtual high-level meeting involving leaders from over a dozen nations, including China's President Xi Jinping, in preparation for the COP30 climate talks set to occur in Brazil later this year. Seventeen heads of state and government participated in the call, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, yet Trump was notably absent.

According to three sources with knowledge of the situation, who requested anonymity, UN and Brazilian officials did not extend an invitation to him. Related Article: Global Leaders from China to the EU Meet for Climate Discussion Without the U.S. Trump has openly expressed his skepticism towards established climate science and is again withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. Meanwhile, China is capitalizing on the U.S. retreat. During last week's meeting, Xi criticized a "certain major country" for adopting unilateralism and protectionism, which has led to a "serious impact" on international norms, per the official Xinhua News Agency. "This marked Xi's first international engagement on climate change since 2021, showcasing China's support for multilateralism," noted Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute in Washington.

Related Article: Xi Pledges Stronger Climate Commitments as U.S. Steps Back The absence of the U.S. from these high-level climate discussions emphasizes its growing isolation among affluent nations regarding climate and energy policies.
Harjeet Singh, a veteran of COP meetings and founding director of the Satat Sampada Climate Foundation, commented, "The U.S. being excluded from this dialogue starkly showcases the current administration's waning influence in global climate action." By excluding the U.S., Brazil, the host of COP30, is sending a clear message that it now seeks leadership from the EU, China, India, and other countries to take the necessary steps on climate initiatives and financing. U.S. State Department officials did not respond to a request for comments. Although last week's meeting was tightly controlled, the U.S. still technically holds a seat at the table for climate negotiations, alongside all other countries that remain parties to the Paris Agreement. Trump initiated the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in January, but the process requires at least a year to complete. Therefore, the U.S. should still be invited to future UN climate meetings, including the mid-year discussions scheduled in Bonn in June. Image Caption: U.S. President Donald Trump signed numerous executive orders upon taking office on January 20, including one to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. What U.S. representatives will express during these events—and whether they will attend—remains uncertain. Concerns were voiced during this year's Petersberg Climate Dialogue, a major annual gathering for climate diplomats, that the U.S. could disrupt the COP this November, especially since it notably missed the event held in Berlin. When U.S. delegates have engaged in multilateral discussions, their pro-fossil-fuel rhetoric has not been well received, particularly among nations convinced that a transition to cleaner energy is imminent.

For example, during last week's energy summit co-hosted by the International Energy Agency and the UK government in London, a speech from a Trump official condemned climate policies as detrimental to human lives—a stance that contradicts scientific consensus. The response to this rhetoric was described as "going down like a fart in a phone box," according to a UK energy figure interviewed by Politico. In contrast, leaders from other affluent nations used their platform to advocate for greener economies.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his ambition to transform Britain into a "clean-energy superpower," while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized that future economic growth will hinge on "clean homegrown renewables." Linda Kalcher, executive director of Strategic Perspectives and a long-time adviser to European officials on climate diplomacy, noted, "Last week highlighted the U.S.'s isolation on the global stage amidst its efforts to resist the energy transition." During last week's leaders' call, Xi also reiterated China's commitment to a net-zero future, stating, "No matter how the international landscape changes, China's endeavors to combat climate change will remain steadfast," as reported by state-run CCTV. "Our push for international cooperation will not diminish, and our commitment to fostering a community of shared future for mankind will not waver."