Fresh Air Inside the U.S. reversal on climate change action
13 snips
Jan 28, 2026 
David Gelles, New York Times climate reporter who covers climate policy, business, and energy, gives a plainspoken tour of how U.S. climate policy is unraveling and why global leaders at Davos are alarmed. He chronicles corporate retreat from climate pledges, rapid rollbacks in clean-energy incentives and EPA priorities, and the international fallout from withdrawing from Paris.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Global Concern Over U.S. Political Shift
- Global leaders at Davos see erosion of U.S. norms and rule of law under Trump's return.
- That worry alters diplomatic posture and prompts middle powers to hedge or push back.
Corporate Climate Momentum Has Faded
- Corporate climate commitments that surged around 2020 have largely dissipated by 2025.
- Multiple forces — U.S. policy rollback, market shifts, and political pushback — undermined those alliances.
Multiple Forces Silenced Climate Action
- President Trump's return and policy reversals are a major factor silencing corporate climate action.
- But domestic political backlash to ESG and energy market shocks (e.g., Ukraine war) also played key roles.
