The European Union should resist pressure from US President Donald Trump and reconsider further purchases of American energy products under the proposed $750 billion transatlantic trade deal, according to Laurence Tubiana, one of the architects of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Speaking to Euronews’ flagship morning programme Europe Today, Tubiana argued that Europe must safeguard its climate ambitions and strategic independence, even amid intensifying pressure from Washington.
Tubiana, a veteran French diplomat and economist who played a central role in global climate negotiations, warned that the current stance of the US administration represents an unprecedented challenge to international climate cooperation. She said that the Trump administration’s pushback against key European climate policies should not deter the EU from its legally binding objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050.
“I haven’t seen anything like this in my whole life working on climate,” Tubiana told Euronews. “I’ve never seen such aggressiveness from the US, including the pressure on Europe.” Her comments come as the United States openly criticises and seeks to undermine several EU climate measures, most notably the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), often described as a carbon border tax. The policy is designed to prevent carbon leakage by placing a price on imports from countries with weaker emissions regulations.
At the heart of Tubiana’s concern is energy security. She cautioned that large-scale commitments to purchase US fossil fuel exports, as foreseen in the trade deal, risk creating new dependencies that could undermine Europe’s long-term economic and political autonomy. Instead, she called on the EU’s 27 member states to diversify energy supplies and prioritise investments that align with climate goals.
“Energy security is a key element of economic security,” Tubiana stressed. “This means we should not create energy dependency with any one country.” She argued that diversification should include a strong focus on reliable partners and, crucially, on domestic and regional renewable energy production.
Tubiana pointed to global shifts in energy and industrial policy as evidence that Europe’s climate strategy remains viable. She highlighted China’s rapid expansion in renewable energy as a sign of the accelerating transformation of the global economy. Massive investments in solar, wind, and green technologies, she said, demonstrate that clean energy is no longer a niche ambition but a central driver of growth and competitiveness.
Despite the US withdrawal from the United Nations climate summit process, Tubiana noted that global momentum has not stalled. She cited the fact that 85 countries at COP30 expressed political will to phase out fossil fuels, underlining that international climate action extends far beyond Washington’s current position.
According to Tubiana, nearly all countries now have climate legislation in place, and around 88% of global greenhouse gas emissions are covered by commitments to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century.
Her remarks also come at a time when the EU itself is facing internal challenges, including political pressure and the rollback or dilution of some climate-related laws. Nonetheless, Tubiana remains optimistic that Europe can still meet its 2050 climate neutrality target.
“If we increase the share of renewable energy, if we invest in decarbonisation, and of course in industry, we can get there,” she said. For Tubiana, the path forward lies in reinforcing Europe’s technological leadership, accelerating the green transition, and refusing to compromise long-term climate objectives for short-term political or trade considerations.
As transatlantic relations face renewed strain over climate and trade, Tubiana’s message is clear: Europe must stand firm, protect its independence, and continue to lead on climate action, even in the face of mounting external pressure.
