U.S. Halts Scientist Participation in Key U.N. Climate Talks

The Trump administration has blocked U.S. scientists from participating in crucial U.N. climate assessments, sources told Reuters. This move affects experts from the U.S. Global Change Research Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, preventing them from engaging with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

As a result, the U.S. will not attend the upcoming IPCC plenary meeting in Hangzhou, China, set for February 24-28. The meeting will influence major climate decisions, including the role of carbon removal and capture technology. The absence of U.S. federal representatives weakens the country’s role in shaping global climate policies.

The White House declined to comment on the decision, while the State Department did not respond. Delta Merner of the Union of Concerned Scientists highlighted the consequences, noting that the IPCC’s strength lies in unified global participation. Although independent American scientists will continue contributing research, the lack of official U.S. involvement is significant.

China’s foreign ministry claimed no knowledge of the U.S. withdrawal. The U.S., which co-chairs a working group on climate mitigation alongside Malaysia, had also pledged $1.5 million to the IPCC, but Congress had not appropriated the funds.

This move aligns with Trump’s broader climate policies, including plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and reduce global climate funding. Melbourne University professor Kathryn Bowen, a lead author on the IPCC’s sixth assessment, noted that financial support for climate science has been declining. She emphasized the importance of funding from high-income nations to support researchers in the Global South.

The U.S. retreat from multilateral climate efforts raises concerns about international cooperation on climate change mitigation and research.