UN Chief Calls for Action Against Climate Disinformation Following Trump’s “Con Job” Remarks

In a pointed response to recent high-profile climate skepticism, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a forceful call to combat climate disinformation ahead of the upcoming COP30 climate summit. His statements come in the wake of controversial remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently described the climate crisis as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.”

Speaking to delegates at the World Meteorological Organization’s 75th anniversary conference in Geneva on Wednesday, Guterres emphasized the critical importance of scientific integrity in addressing climate challenges. “We must fight mis- and disinformation, online harassment, and greenwashing,” he declared, adding that “scientists and researchers should never fear telling the truth.”

The Secretary-General’s comments appear to be a direct counter to Trump’s recent address at the United Nations headquarters in New York. During that speech, the U.S. president not only dismissed climate concerns but actively championed fossil fuels while criticizing renewable energy technologies. Trump’s stance represents a significant shift in U.S. climate policy following his return to the White House.

“The carbon footprint is a hoax made up by people with evil intentions,” Trump claimed in his UN address, before dismissing renewable energy sources. “We’re getting rid of the falsely named renewables, by the way: they’re a joke, they don’t work, and they’re too expensive,” he stated, referencing his administration’s efforts against solar and wind power, including a new law eliminating clean energy tax credits.

Guterres, without directly naming Trump, presented a contrasting view by highlighting the essential role of climate science. He noted that without “clear-eyed” scientific data and research, humanity would never have recognized what he termed the “dangerous and existential threat of climate change.”

The timing of this rhetorical clash is particularly significant as it comes just weeks before COP30, the UN Climate Change Conference scheduled for November in Belem, Brazil. The summit represents a critical moment for global climate action, as nations are expected to present updated and more ambitious climate commitments.

Climate policy experts view the disagreement between Guterres and Trump as emblematic of a wider geopolitical divide on climate action. The United States, as the world’s largest economy and second-largest carbon emitter, wields substantial influence over global climate efforts. Trump’s previous administration withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, a decision that was reversed by President Biden before Trump’s return to office.

The fossil fuel industry, which has faced increasing scrutiny for its role in climate change, stands to benefit from Trump’s pro-oil and gas policies. Market analysts note that energy companies with significant fossil fuel portfolios saw stock price increases following Trump’s election victory, while renewable energy stocks experienced a downturn.

Meanwhile, the scientific consensus on climate change remains overwhelming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), composed of thousands of scientists worldwide, has consistently concluded that human activities are the primary driver of observed warming since the mid-20th century.

Guterres’s defense of climate science aligns with the WMO’s mission of providing authoritative information about the Earth’s atmosphere and climate. The organization plays a crucial role in monitoring global temperature records, which have shown concerning trends in recent years. The WMO recently confirmed that 2023 was the warmest year on record globally, with 2024 on track to potentially surpass it.

As world leaders prepare for COP30, the stark contrast between Trump’s dismissal of climate concerns and Guterres’s call for science-based action highlights the political challenges facing international climate cooperation. The outcome of these tensions will likely influence global climate policy for years to come, with significant implications for economies, energy systems, and efforts to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate.