Organizer this Thursday and Friday of a G7 dedicated to the environment, France will have to deal with the United States of Donald Trump, whose administration is openly climate-skeptical.
For France, presiding over the G7 is an opportunity to push certain issues to the top of the international agenda. Climate diplomacy is one of them. But facing the United States of Donald Trump, the exercise appears perilous.
On the occasion of a “G7 Environment” organized by France this Thursday and Friday in the Paris region, the Ministry of Ecological Transition does not hide this difficulty.
“We have chosen not to address the climate issue head-on (…) because the positions of the United States on this subject are well known,” emphasized the office of the Minister of the Environment.
“We wanted to prioritize the unity of the G7, especially to protect this forum. So we chose to focus on less contentious topics,” said Monique Barbut’s entourage.
Adapting to Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed climate skeptic, involves a form of “realpolitik” to adjust to the new situation imposed by the Trump administration. Since his return to the White House in January 2025, the American president, openly skeptical of climate change, has completely disengaged the United States from climate diplomacy.
These setbacks are alarming to many chancelleries, including France, as well as scientists. Washington has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement for the second time. The country has also left the UNFCCC, the IPCC, and the IPBES (biodiversity).
To justify its actions, the White House has repeatedly cited its argument of defending “American interests” against institutions deemed “globalist” and “ineffective.”
However, there is still an American representative present.
