U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright on Monday criticized former President Joe Biden’s climate policies and vowed to end them, claiming that global warming is merely a side effect of modern development.
Speaking at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Wright stated, “The Trump administration will treat climate change for what it is, a global physical phenomenon that is a side effect of building the modern world. Everything in life involves trade-offs. Everything.”
Wright emphasized that oil, gas, and coal remain essential to the global economy, asserting that future energy demand would continue to grow without limits. He further dismissed Biden’s policies aimed at combating climate change, such as expanding zero-emissions solar and wind power and promoting electric vehicle adoption, calling them ineffective.
“The cure was far more destructive than the disease,” Wright remarked.
In a related development, the U.S. approved an extension of Delfin LNG’s export licenses, allowing liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments to major economies in Asia and Europe. This decision comes after a pause in LNG export approvals under the Biden administration, which had lasted about a year to assess the economic and environmental effects of the growing LNG industry.
Wright expressed optimism about future LNG growth, stating, “We’ve gotten a little bit done, we’re hoping to pick up the pace.” He projected that U.S. LNG exports, already the world’s largest, should double in the coming years.
