US absence at UN climate summit leaves 197 nations to fill leadership void

The United States has refused to participate in the UN climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, for the second consecutive year, leaving 197 other nations to address global warming without the world's largest historical emitter. President Donald Trump, who has called global warming a "con job," withdrew the US from the Paris agreement and halted emissions reductions, climate research funding, and aid to vulnerable countries. Other nations are scrambling to fill the leadership vacuum, with China not stepping forward and some countries like the EU, New Zealand, Brazil, and Canada backtracking on climate commitments. Despite the official absence, many Americans are attending COP31, including California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Al Gore, and 120 US officials led by Gina McCarthy. Democrats hope the midterm election results signal a potential US return to climate leadership by 2028.