The temperature at Cop30: Trump’s absence better than a US wrecking ball

After bully-like behavior last month over a small emissions levy, diplomats will be relieved if the US stays away from climate talks

For years, countries around the world pressed the US to engage with them in addressing the climate crisis and to show it was serious about taking action. Now, with key United Nations climate talks under way in Brazil this week, other nations have been quietly hoping the US stays well away.

Under Donald Trump, who has called the climate crisis the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world", the US has not only pulled back from climate action but openly agitated for greater global fossil fuel use and for other countries to tear down their own climate policies.