Trump Energy Chief Chris Wright Downplays 39C UK Heat at Fossil Fuel Event
Updated
Updated · DeSmog · Jun 23
Trump Energy Chief Chris Wright Downplays 39C UK Heat at Fossil Fuel Event
3 articles · Updated · DeSmog · Jun 23
Summary
Chris Wright used a London video appearance at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference to argue cold kills more people than heat and to call climate change a “slow-moving phenomenon.”
39C temperatures are possible in the UK this June under an extreme heat warning, while Europe’s broader heatwave has turned deadly, with at least 15 UK water-related deaths last month and at least 40 drownings reported in France since Thursday.
Wright also urged Britain to reverse course on energy policy, saying a shale gas boom could have cut power bills and driven an “industrial renaissance” despite the UK’s fracking ban.
The ARC gathering featured other anti-net-zero voices including Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch, and the report says the conference is backed by oil and gas-linked funders.
Wright, a former Liberty Energy CEO, has repeatedly rejected climate alarm, underscoring the Trump administration’s broader push to expand fossil fuels while climate scientists link worsening heatwaves to human-caused warming.
As Europe records deadly heat, why are officials claiming cold is the bigger killer and that fossil fuels are the solution?
With scientific data showing rising heat deaths, is the push for more fossil fuels a calculated economic risk or a policy failure?
Climate Crisis in the Crosshairs: Secretary Wright, ARC Conference, and the Surge in European Heat Deaths
Overview
In June 2026, as a deadly heatwave struck the UK and Europe, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright sparked controversy at the ARC conference in London by downplaying the dangers of extreme heat and promoting fossil fuels. His remarks, made during a time of real climate crisis, drew immediate criticism from climate experts and public health officials. The severe heatwave highlighted the risks Wright seemed to minimize, fueling a wider debate about U.S. climate policy and the administration’s commitment to addressing global warming. This controversy underscored the clash between scientific consensus and political narratives on climate action.