Treasury Secretary questions causes of climate change

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said it is difficult to determine the causes of climate change during remarks at the IMF–World Bank spring meetings, comments that contrast with the broad scientific consensus that recent warming is driven mainly by human fossil-fuel emissions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told attendees at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank that it is difficult to determine the causes of climate change. He urged global financial institutions to focus on economic growth, trade and development and has asked the World Bank to remove some climate finance targets. Bessent also pressed the bank to finance "all affordable and reliable sources of energy," including gas, oil and coal. Scientists and other speakers at the event responded that the broad scientific consensus attributes recent warming mainly to human activity. Key points: - Scott Bessent said it is difficult to "deconstruct the reasons" for why climate changes are occurring during remarks on the sidelines of IMF–World Bank meetings. - Bessent has asked the World Bank to drop some climate finance targets and to support all "affordable and reliable" energy sources, including gas, oil and coal. - Climate scientists cited the consensus that human activities, especially emissions from burning fossil fuels, are the primary cause of the observed recent warming and noted that natural factors alone would not explain the current trend. - Bessent spoke alongside Bjorn Lomborg, who described climate change as not a crisis and argued that poorer countries need fossil fuels for development; Lomborg said spending on some clean energy projects can divert funds from other services. - The remarks came amid a broader political context described in the article, including recent U.S. policy moves that reduced clean energy spending and regulatory measures and the rising prominence of climate-skeptic voices in some forums. Summary: Bessent's comments drew clear contrast with the mainstream scientific view and highlighted tensions at international finance meetings over how institutions should weigh climate goals against development and economic priorities. Undetermined at this time.