At global climate conferences, Republican representatives do not mention Donald.

Republican lawmakers from the GOP traveled to Dubai for the U.N. climate conference, but they made it clear that they have no desire to talk about Donald Trump and his well-known belief that climate change is a made-up plot by China. In reality, Trump’s opinions are vastly different from those of the majority at this conference, which includes representatives from almost 200 nations. It doesn’t matter that he is currently leading in the 2024 Republican primary and polls show he could defeat President Joe Biden.

The legislators are adamant that they attended COP28 to advocate for their own Republican perspective on addressing climate change, which prioritizes American fossil fuels and nuclear energy. However, they also recognize the importance and increasing political pressure to present a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They would rather not focus on the likelihood of their agenda surviving in the face of a potential second term for Trump.

“No. 1, he’s not the nominee right now,” Rep. Garret Graves

Representative (R-La.) stated to POLITICO that once the American people have chosen a nominee, they can engage in further discussions.

“First, he must be elected,” stated the Representative.John Curtis

The founder of the Conservative Climate Caucus, (R-Utah), states that one-third of House GOP members are now a part of the caucus. He suggests working towards getting him there so that they can have a conversation about it.

“I am not aware of his stance on climate change or energy,” stated the Representative.Brandon Williams, a freshman Republican from New York. “But I know what mine are.”

The upcoming COP28 climate conference is overshadowed by Trump’s presence, it being the final conference held by the U.N. before the next U.S. presidential election. In a bipartisan effort, Republican delegates tried to distance themselves from the former president, who continues to divide voters and is facing legal battles in multiple courts.

For the first time in recent history, Republicans led an official congressional delegation to one of the yearly U.N. climate conferences.

Trump has left little mystery where he stands, vowing to repeal Biden’s “ridiculous Green New Deal crusade” and describing the president’s signature climate law as “a communist manifesto.” He has claimed that wind turbines cause cancer and kill whales, and that the 190-plus nations that signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 were aiming to put the U.S. at a “very, very big economic disadvantage.”

This type of language excites Trump’s supporters in the United States, but it doesn’t win him any allies at the yearly climate negotiations.

Republican legislators widely recognize the issue of climate change and the need for action. However, their focus lies in supporting domestic fossil fuel production, promoting American energy technology globally, and urging China to take responsibility for reducing its pollution.

During the past week, Republican politicians refrained from discussing Trump during their public appearances while they presented their plans for addressing climate change over a span of two days.

In various discussions and one-on-one meetings, the Republicans argued for increasing the use of nuclear energy, simplifying the process for approving energy projects of all types, prioritizing advancements in technology such as hydrogen power, and addressing pollution from fossil fuels rather than limiting their production. This aligns with the beliefs of countries that heavily support fossil fuels like Saudi Arabia, and even the Biden administration shares similar views on promoting new forms of nuclear energy and altering permitting regulations.

The ex-president remains an ex-president. Our Republican delegation supports reducing emissions, promoting accessible energy, and ensuring energy security,” Graves stated. “We have evidence that our policies have more beneficial results for both the United States and the world compared to the policies of the current Biden administration.”

The Republican party acknowledges that there is a change in public opinion regarding reducing emissions. This is particularly evident among younger voters, even within the GOP, according to Representative.Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.).

According to the source, it is impossible to enact policy without winning elections. This is especially important for those under the age of 30, as 85% of them consider climate change to be a top issue and feel strongly about it. This indicates that they prioritize it when voting.

However, this has not negatively affected Trump thus far. He continues to have significant support from Republican voters, maintaining a 53% lead in the GOP race, as shown in a December 1-3 poll by Morning Consult of 3,526 potential voters.

Curtis proposed that the GOP primary polls did not align with the larger energy discussion. He stated, “It seems evident that they are not basing their voting choices on climate change, correct? If they were, the result would be different.”

It is highly unlikely that Trump can rely on the support of a single Republican voter: Senator.Lisa Murkowski

The Republican from Alaska stated that she has been very clear about distancing herself from Trump. She voted to impeach him and did not vote for him in either of his presidential elections.

Biden’s location is known, but the outcome of the upcoming presidential election remains uncertain. Murkowski, the only Republican on a different Senate delegation, stated to reporters, “We will have to wait and see who will be the next president.” However, she hopes to avoid inconsistent policies in the future.

The Republican party proposed that changes in global politics have strengthened their stance on energy and climate issues.

The incursion of Russia into Ukraine in 2022 disrupted the energy supply networks, resulting in some parts of Europe reverting to coal. Despite concerns, China has continued constructing coal-powered plants. There is a predicted increase in global energy demand. The discovery of oil and gas reserves near Guyana’s coastline has led to significant wealth, and even the United Nations’ documents cannot discourage further development. Republican officials argue that the current security and economic conditions call for increased production of energy in the United States, as failing to do so would allow other countries to take the lead.

“I am skeptical that fossil fuels will become obsolete,” stated Congressman.Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) told POLITICO. “I think you’re gonna find a focus on emissions and how to operate on fossil fuels for power generation, but also capture some of that emission.”

The European Union, however, has learned a different message from the invasion of Ukraine: Dependence on oil and gas led to an increase in prices, resulting in a faster transition away from fossil fuels. The EU has united with other countries vulnerable to climate change to advocate for a complete elimination of oil, gas, and coal by 2050, viewing clean energy as the preferred and more cost-effective option.

In recent years, there have been global issues such as energy shortages and ongoing wars. As a result, individuals are eager to be involved in the necessary changes for a more sustainable future, according to departing Dutch climate minister Rob Jetten. He emphasized the importance of following through on these changes.

However, fulfilling this promise may prove to be difficult for Jetten’s country. The recent Dutch elections resulted in an unexpected victory for a far-right party led by Geert Wilders, a politician similar to Trump. Wilders has promised to implement strict immigration policies and reject climate policies.

Republicans reiterated the importance of addressing greenhouse gas emissions over limiting oil and gas production, aligning with OPEC’s message to its members at COP28 to prioritize reducing emissions rather than restricting access to fossil fuels.

Some countries, including Saudi Arabia, have proposed that the final statement of the summit should focus on regulating carbon emissions, while others have called for a gradual reduction or complete elimination of fossil fuels. This has sparked a heated debate at COP28, with many nations viewing the stance supported by Saudi Arabia as the least effective solution for preventing disastrous effects of climate change.

Rep. Tim Walberg

The Republican from Michigan stated that they have reached a compromise with Bahrain, an oil-producing country. Bahrain believes that the focus should be on reducing emissions, rather than limiting sources of energy.

He proposed that Trump’s stance on renewable energy could potentially change if he were to become president, as markets and the global economy could influence his decisions.

Walberg stated that when it comes to Donald Trump, it can be acknowledged that he is someone who prefers to utilize effective methods. If the approach involves implementing renewable energy and transitioning towards reducing emissions, increasing efficiency, and improving the economy, Trump can be convinced to support it.

Walberg noted that he also pressed U.S. special climate envoy John Kerry to slow down proposed Environmental Protection Agency rules meant to improve vehicle fuel economy. The standard aims to reduce emissions from transportation, the U.S. sector that contributes most to climate change.

The Democrats expressed appreciation for the Republican presence at the climate conference, but criticized their lack of coherence between their statements in Dubai and their actions in Congress.

“The problem is they’re not voting that way,” Rep. Kathy Castor

The representative from Florida (D-Fla.) informed journalists, “Actions speak louder than words.”

Certain ideas advocated by Republicans are gaining more acceptance among certain countries in the attempt to regulate temperatures. However, there is a warning: Scientists have advised against placing too much reliance on advancements in carbon capture technology that is still in its early stages, stating that reducing the use of fossil fuels is the most effective way to avoid depending on inventions that may not be feasible on a global level.

The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that countries will likely have to implement strategies for collecting or eliminating carbon from the air in order to achieve their target of capping global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, researchers have emphasized the need to also decrease the production of coal, oil, and gas, a recommendation that Republicans oppose.

The use of hydrogen as a power source has gained interest in industries that struggle with reducing carbon emissions. This is due to the complexity of chemical processes or the high levels of energy needed. However, the type of hydrogen used is also important. Green hydrogen, which does not rely on gas, is preferred but currently comes at a high cost.

During discussions with government officials, Kerry expressed support for the Republican party’s proposal to increase the use of nuclear energy, stating that it must triple in order to meet international climate objectives. Nuclear power has long struggled with high costs and limited public support in the United States, leading Republicans to suggest regulatory changes and increased federal funding to make it more affordable.

“I believe the United States is making unwise investment choices by putting too much focus on renewable energy,” stated Williams. “In my opinion, investing in nuclear power should be our top priority. We must fully commit to it.”

This report was contributed to by Zia Weise and Sara Schonhardt.