President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Energy, Chris Wright, is drawing scrutiny for his stance on fossil fuels and climate change. Wright, CEO of Liberty Energy, argues in a corporate report that hydrocarbons are essential to ending global poverty, which he deems a greater threat than climate change.
In the February report titled *Bettering Human Lives*, Wright contends that the energy transition “has not begun” and criticizes what he calls over-optimism about renewable energy. Instead, he advocates for increased fossil fuel production, citing its role in improving living standards and reducing deaths from extreme weather over the past century.
“Carbon is essential for life,” Wright wrote, pushing back against the treatment of carbon dioxide as a pollutant. He has also launched a foundation promoting propane cook stoves in developing countries.
Critics, including climate scientists, have rebuked Wright’s claims. Peter Reich of the University of Michigan called his logic “terrifyingly absurd,” comparing it to dismissing the dangers of flooding despite water’s necessity for life. Other experts, such as Michael Mann of the University of Pennsylvania, pointed to recent deadly climate events, like Hurricane Helene, exacerbated by warming temperatures.
Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute at the Colorado School of Mines, described Wright as emblematic of the Trump administration’s pro-fossil fuel agenda, which seeks to maximize domestic oil and gas production while withdrawing from international climate agreements. “The vibes will be better for the oil and gas industry,” Bazilian said, noting that Wright’s stance overlooks the urgent need to reduce global emissions.
Wright has expressed support for certain non-petroleum energy sources, such as geothermal and small modular nuclear reactors, but he criticized solar and wind as insufficient. His report also falsely claims that polar bear populations are rising, a statement contradicted by experts like Charlotte Lindqvist of the University of Buffalo, who highlights habitat loss due to melting sea ice.
A spokesperson for the Trump transition team defended Wright as a “bold advocate” for affordable energy and U.S. energy independence. However, climate scientists warn that his approach prioritizes short-term economic gains at the expense of addressing the accelerating impacts of climate change.
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