White House to boost fossil fuels at U.N. climate conference

The White House confirmed that the administration will name nuclear energy, natural gas, and coal as answers to climate change while meeting at an upcoming United Nations global warming conference, according to the New York Times. White House spokesman Raj Shah said in a statement: "It is undeniable that fossil fuels will be used for the foreseeable future, and it is in everyone's interest that they be efficient and clean."

Why it matters: With delegates from 195 countries meeting at the two-week conference beginning next week in Bonn, Germany, the stance is "likely to provoke strong reactions," as many experts propose a shift away from fossil fuels. But as Axios' Amy Harder wrote this summer, "making fossil fuels cleaner is desperately needed to address climate change...coal, oil and natural gas aren't going anywhere."