Trump team plans to promote fossil fuels at UN climate event: report

The Trump administration plans to again promote fossil fuels at the annual U.N. climate talks next month, three sources told Reuters.

“Quite frankly, the U.S. is the only party to the convention that appears to be willing to push a rational discussion on the role of cleaner, more efficient fossil [fuels] and the role of civilian nuclear energy,” a source involved in the planning of the event said, according to the news service.

President Trump’s team intends to repeat the strategy they employed in 2017 in Germany, the sources added, where they highlighted the benefits of technologies that burn fossil fuels more efficiently.

The administration also plans to send State Department officials to continue negotiating the climate accord, Reuters reported.

“The White House seems to have taken the view that it’s important to let technocrats complete the work of the rule book. It’s in the U.S. national interest to be at the table and see an outcome that emphasizes transparency, holds countries accountable,” said one of the sources.

The Hill was not able to reach the White House or State Department for immediate comment.

Climate activists and progressives condemned last year’s fossil fuels event.

Since then, several Trump administration officials who supported keeping the U.S. in the Paris climate accords, though under different terms, have left. 

Some of their replacements, such as top economic adviser Larry Kudlow and national security adviser John Bolton, oppose it.

The same is true for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who has been vocal about his opposition to the accord, Reuters reports.

Earlier this year, Trump announced the U.S.’s withdrawal from the Paris agreement.