EPA Chief Zeldin Celebrates Climate Skeptics at DC Conference

CFACT, Heartland Institute, and other groups host 16th International Conference on Climate Change

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:07pm

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A fractured, abstract painting in warm earth tones and cool blues, depicting a repeated, overlapping image of a political symbol related to climate policy, conveying a sense of political division and upheaval.The triumphant mood at a major climate skeptics' conference in Washington reflects the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle climate policies.Washington Today

The 16th International Conference on Climate Change, co-hosted by CFACT, Heartland Institute, CO2 Coalition, and Watts Up With That, drew hundreds of climate skeptics to Washington, D.C. last week. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin delivered a keynote address celebrating the attendees and their views, which have been vindicated in recent years.

Why it matters

The conference highlighted the growing influence of climate skeptics in the Trump administration and the resurgence of climate change denial in Washington, D.C. The event featured prominent scientists, policymakers, and media figures who reject the scientific consensus on climate change.

The details

Zeldin bluntly declared to the gathering of several hundred: 'Today is a moment to celebrate. It is a day to celebrate vindication.' He praised the attendees for their work against the 2009 'endangerment finding' that led to greenhouse gas regulations. Other speakers included Nobel Prize-winning physicist Dr. John Clauser, climatologist Dr. Judith Curry, and CFACT's Marc Morano, who delivered the closing keynote on the Trump administration's dismantling of the climate agenda.

  • The 16th International Conference on Climate Change took place last week in Washington, D.C.

The players

Lee Zeldin

The current Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Craig Rucker

The co-founder and executive director of CFACT, a conservative think tank that co-hosted the conference.

Marc Morano

A prominent climate skeptic and the communications director for the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT).

Dr. John Clauser

A Nobel Prize-winning physicist who spoke at the conference.

Dr. Judith Curry

A climatologist who spoke at the conference.

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What they’re saying

“Today is a moment to celebrate. It is a day to celebrate vindication.”

— Lee Zeldin, EPA Administrator

“I have been on the climate beat for over 25 years, and I have never seen anything like this. Trump is gutting everything the climate movement has ever stood for. Billionaires are silent or reversing themselves on climate, and even Democrats in Congress have been mostly silent as Trump crushes the climate movement. There has been no pushback!”

— Marc Morano, Communications Director, CFACT

The takeaway

The conference highlighted the growing influence of climate skeptics within the Trump administration and the resurgence of climate change denial in Washington, D.C., as the EPA chief celebrated the views of attendees who have long rejected the scientific consensus on climate change.