What US Blocked from UN Planet Report?
The Trump administration joined forces with Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran to block a key summary from a major UN environment report that urged phasing out fossil fuels and switching to clean energy. This summary, drawn from the Global Environment Outlook 7, a massive review by 300 experts, was meant to guide world leaders on tackling the planet's worsening state—from climate chaos to plastic pollution. It's the first time since 1997 that no such policymaker summary has been issued, signaling a dangerous setback as global warming accelerates and demands urgent action on sustainable solutions.
At UN Environment Assembly talks in Nairobi, the US helped kill off the summary for the 1,210-page GEO-7 report. Participants like David Broadstock, a coordinating author, and Patrick Schröder from Chatham House say the opposition came late but was decisive.
The report lays out the dire need to shift from fossil fuels to renewables, cut plastics, and protect ecosystems. Blocking it means leaders miss clear science on why clean energy beats dirty fuels—lower emissions, better health, and real climate progress.
This reversal from Biden-era climate leadership highlights rising tensions. With extreme weather hitting harder, silencing these calls slows the global push for sustainability we can't afford to lose.