The Director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, has raised concerns about the widening gap in energy and climate policy approaches between major powers. He highlighted how the fractures in the global political system are impacting the energy landscape significantly. Birol stated that climate change is falling lower on international policy agendas, particularly pointing to the United States' retreat from its climate commitments during Donald Trump's presidency.

Birol's interview with the Financial Times revealed that different countries are taking divergent paths regarding energy and climate change. While the United States is pulling back on its commitments, European nations and China are pushing forward on clean energy transitions and carbon emission reductions. This divergence reflects a broader trend where geopolitical tensions and national interests are overshadowing collaborative efforts to address climate change.

Moreover, recent actions by the Trump administration, such as the repeal of key EPA regulations on emissions and the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, exemplify the growing reluctance of major powers to prioritize climate policies. In contrast, although the European Union has scaled back some of its climate ambitions, countries still face pressure to address climate issues in the face of shifting global dynamics. Birol's warnings underscore the critical need for renewed international cooperation to tackle climate change effectively, as the room for progress diminishes under current geopolitical strains.