Trending 
A meeting of G7 nations on environmental issues begins in Paris on Thursday, but climate change was notably absent from the agenda. The decision, made by France’s ecology minister Monique Barbut, aims to avoid conflict with the United States, which has long held a contentious stance on global climate agreements.
Barbut’s office explained that the two-day meeting would concentrate on “less contentious issues” to preserve unity within the G7, particularly in light of the United States’ well-known opposition to climate action. The ministry confirmed that this decision was made to preserve the forum’s cohesion and prevent divisive debates.
Since returning to office in 2025, President Donald Trump’s administration has pulled the US out of key climate agreements and rolled back environmental protections.
This position has left many nations at odds with the U.S. on how to address climate change. At the Paris meeting, while France, Italy, Canada, Japan, Germany, and the UK are represented by their respective environment ministers, the U.S. is sending Usha-Maria Turner, assistant administrator at the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Instead of addressing climate change directly, the G7 discussions will focus on ocean conservation, biodiversity funding, and desertification.
France is leading a campaign to secure $800 million in funding to support national parks in around 20 African countries. However, environmental activists have voiced concern about the G7’s watered-down agenda. Gaia Febvre from Climate Action Network criticised the G7 for failing to respond adequately to climate crises, claiming it weakens global action on the issue.
This meeting comes just days before over 50 countries meet in Colombia for a landmark conference aimed at phasing out fossil fuels, the leading driver of climate change.
