Trump Urged to Exclude Big Tech from UN Climate Summit
Energy groups warn Trump to bar Big Tech from UN climate talks over alleged misleading claims.
2 min read
Energy and policy groups are urging President Donald Trump to exclude major technology companies from the United Nations’ 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey, citing concerns over misleading climate statements that could harm U.S. interests and federal law.
Letter to Trump Warns of Legal and National Security Risks
A letter, shared exclusively with the Daily Caller News Foundation, was sent to Trump by six energy and policy organizations. The letter warns that Amazon, Apple, and Google may be violating federal law by making “false and misleading” climate statements at COP31. The groups argue that these companies profit from federal business despite opposing the White House’s withdrawal from U.N. climate efforts. Because they trade on public markets, they are subject to oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Concerns Over National Security and Foreign Policy
Steve Milloy, a senior fellow at the Energy & Environment Legal Institute, stated that the companies, which are government contractors with national security obligations, should be barred from participating in COP31. He argued that the process benefits Communist China and undermines U.S. foreign policy and national security. The letter also calls on the president to ensure U.S. companies are legally required to be honest and not harm national security.
Big Tech’s Role in AI and Climate Pledges
Cameron Sholty, executive director of Heartland Impact, noted that the demand for power to run AI has pushed Big Tech toward natural gas and nuclear energy. He warned that new climate pledges at the conference could jeopardize these projects. Sholty emphasized that the COP31 podium does not exempt companies from American law.
U.S. Withdrawal and Climate Projections
The U.N.’s 2026 report attributed “about half” of a 0.2–0.3°C increase in global warming forecasts to the U.S.’s “abandonment” of its climate pledge. Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is said to have canceled another 0.1°C of projected warming this century.
Trump’s Withdrawal from U.N. Climate Agreements
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change on January 7, 2025, and from the Paris Agreement for the second time on January 20, 2025. COP31, scheduled from November 9 to 20, is the annual meeting of the U.N. climate treaty.
Source: Daily Caller
