US accused of trying to 'edit out' climate change in Antarctic report

The United States has faced international criticism for its reluctance to use the term "climate change" in discussions concerning Antarctica, a region experiencing rapid environmental shifts. At a recent Antarctic Treaty meeting, France formally objected to the U.S. suggestion to avoid broad terms like "climate change" in favor of referencing "specific" environmental changes.

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France … expressed it had strong concern about the gradual disappearance of references to climate change in the work of the Committee [for Environmental Protection].

France argued that "climate change was a reality affecting all countries, regardless of borders." The French delegation cautioned that refusing to name the issue constituted a "dangerous precedent" and sent a negative signal about the credibility of the Committee for Environmental Protection, whose work relies on scientific fact. The report from the meeting noted that France emphasized the scientific evidence clearly demonstrating the link between climate change and the degradation of Antarctic ecosystems, warning that ignoring the term could call science itself into question.

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France emphasised that climate change was a reality affecting all countries, regardless of borders.

Most participating nations supported France's position, recalling previous commitments to combat climate change. While the U.S. agreed on the importance of using scientific evidence, it maintained a preference for focusing on "specific" environmental impacts, such as sea ice reduction or threats to emperor penguins, rather than what it termed "broad discussions that did not necessarily lead to action." This stance has drawn condemnation from conservation groups, particularly given past actions by the Trump administration to downplay climate change.

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Cautioning that refusing to even name climate change constituted a dangerous precedent, France considered this a worrying development for the credibility of a committee whose work was grounded in scientific fact, and sent a negative message for its future.