Due to the pressure from the Trump administration, which denies climate change, the International Energy Agency (IEA), a leading authority in the energy field, has taken a step back. During the recent ministerial meeting held in Paris, the IEA's summary document released on the 18th-19th did not include climate change response in its list of priorities, focusing instead on energy security, critical minerals, and nuclear power as key issues. This is in stark contrast to the previous meeting's joint declaration which prioritized climate crisis responses and the phased elimination of fossil fuels, indicating a pronounced shift in the international dialogue surrounding climate change.

The significant influence of the US, which is perceived to be pulling the financial strings, is evident in this change of stance by the IEA. Reports suggest that US Energy Secretary Chris Wright warned that the IEA could lose US funding—around 14% of its annual budget (approximately $6 million)—if it does not retract its support for carbon neutrality within a year. The Trump administration, having previously declared climate change a hoax and withdrawn from the Paris Agreement as well as the UN climate change convention, has now applied pressure on the IEA, creating tensions over international cooperation on climate action.

The US push for 'America First' policies is reflecting a broader trend of retreating from climate commitments even within the IEA. Historically, the IEA has included the 'Stated Policies Scenario' (STEPS) in its World Energy Outlook, which reflects optimistic analyses of carbon neutrality based on government plans. However, last year it shifted to the 'Current Policies Scenario' (CPS), which conservatively reflects only the policies implemented to date, thus adopting a more cautious view on the pace of energy transitions and casting doubt on achieving carbon neutrality. This shift in the IEA's reporting could significantly influence investment decisions made by governments and financial institutions worldwide.