Trump’s pick for energy secretary rejects linking climate change and wildfires

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🗞️ Driving the news: Chris Wright, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Energy Secretary, denied links between climate change and wildfires during his Senate confirmation hearing
• His comments faced sharp criticism from Democrats as Los Angeles wildfires claimed at least 25 lives
Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, has repeatedly disputed the climate-wildfire connection in public statements

🔭 The context: Wright has previously labeled wildfire-climate connections as “hype” and criticized climate policies in LinkedIn posts and interviews
• Scientific studies, however, show climate change has doubled the frequency of extreme wildfires over two decades
• Democrats questioned his stance as Republicans remained confident in his confirmation, citing his qualifications and alignment with Trump’s pro-fossil fuel agenda.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Wright’s position could steer U.S. energy policy away from climate-focused strategies, prioritizing fossil fuel expansion
• Experts warn that dismissing the link between climate change and wildfires undermines efforts to address the escalating climate crisis and its deadly impacts

⏭️ What's next: With Republicans holding a Senate majority, Wright is likely to be confirmed despite opposition
• His leadership could shape U.S. energy policy to favor fossil fuels, potentially intensifying environmental and climate-related challenges

💬 One quote: “The climate crisis and its deadly effects is very real to my neighbors and my constituents,” - Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), challenging Wright’s dismissal of climate-wildfire links

📈 One stat: Wildfires have doubled in frequency and magnitude globally over the last 20 years due to climate change, according to Nature Ecology & Evolution

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