As Davos 2025 reacts to Trump tack, EU chief leads defense against climate change

As the World Economic Forum's annual gabfest in the Swiss Alps got into full swing Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump gave everybody something to talk about with his actions on his first day back in office.

Energy industry executives could consider Trump's vow to "drill, baby, drill." Foreign leaders deciphered what he meant by his wish to expand U.S. territory. Trade advocates digested the unveiling of his "External Revenue Service" to collect tariffs and duties — a concern for many business leaders at the elite gathering.

From the earliest speeches, panel discussions and back-channel meetings in the town of Davos, Trump's executive orders and evocative oratory were setting tongues wagging.

Here's a look at some major themes.

EU's von der Leyen leads defence on climate

Right from the start, participants were able to riff off of Trump's new tack.

For all his various pronouncements, European leaders put a big focus on the fight against global warming after his executive order directing the U.S. government to pull out of the Paris climate pact — again.

Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Union's executive branch, called the 2015 accord "the best hope for all humanity" and vowed: "Europe will stay the course, and keep working with all nations that want to protect nature and stop global warming."

The voluntary pact aims to limit long-term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels or at least keep temperature rises well under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit).

Before her speech, climate activists unfurled a banner over the main Davos Congress Center atrium that read, "Tax the super-rich! Fund a just and green future."

Even without the U.S. government, the private sector and countries leading the clean energy transition like China are continuing to work on climate change.

"The world is undergoing an energy transition that is unstoppable," United Nations climate chief Simon Stiell said. The "door remains open" if the U.S. wants to get back into the Paris accord one day, he added.

Democracy and human rights on the defensive?

Business leaders and political pundits — as so often with Trump — sought to cut through the bluster and over-the-top pronouncements like his call for U.S. territorial expansion or the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America."

Europe, like the United States seen as a paragon of democratic values, has been riven by political discord in countries such as France and Germany. Some recently ascendant leaders like Italy's Giorgia Meloni — who was invited to the inauguration — have cast themselves as more Trump-friendly.

Alain Berset, a former Swiss president who heads the Council of Europe, which defends human rights and supports democracy, said he was "not surprised" by Trump's speech.

He said Trump returned to power in a democratic election, but democracy must be continually defended.

"We are witnessing a backsliding in democracy everywhere in the world, even in the most advanced democracy," Berset told The Associated Press. "It is a movement into the bad — in the wrong direction."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who has criticized Trump ally Elon Musk's support for the European far-right, was expected to speak later Tuesday.

Scholz's hold on power in economically sluggish Germany appears tenuous. His Social Democrats are trailing third in polls showing conservative Friedrich Merz is the favourite to become the next chancellor after the Feb. 23 elections.

Merz himself is set to take part in a discussion in Davos late in the day on Tuesday.

Trump didn't talk Ukraine. Zelenskyy did in Davos

During his presidential campaign, Trump said he could end the Russia-Ukraine war in one day. He didn't mention either country in his inaugural address, even if he did say he wants to be "a peacemaker and a unifier" more generally.

Nearly three years after Russia's full-blown invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his platform in Davos to urge European allies to remain united.

"We're at yet another turning point, which some see as a problem for Europe, but others call a chance. Europe must establish itself as a strong global player," he said. "Let's not forget – there's no ocean separating European countries from Russia.

He acknowledged the critical role of the United States as an ally for Europe.

"In times of war, everyone worries – will the United States stay with them? Every ally worries about that. But does anyone in the United States worry that Europe might abandon them someday – might stop being their ally?" Zelenskyy said. "The answer is no," he said.

"Europe can't afford to be second or third in line for its allies. If that happens, the world will start moving forward without Europe, and that's a world that won't be comfortable or beneficial for Europeans," he added.

Mideast, Gaza aid and 'gold medal' for Trump?

Israel's President Isaac Herzog, and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani are likely to discuss the Gaza ceasefire.

Tom Fletcher, the head of the U.N. humanitarian aid coordinator, said his immediate priority was ensuring aid gets into Gaza during the ceasefire. Beyond that, he said he hoped Trump might help find a way to foster Mideast peace between Israelis and Palestinians, that has evaded his predecessors and many other diplomats and decision-makers for decades.

"I hope there is an argument that can be made to Trump that this is the thing that (Joe) Biden and (Barack) Obama and (Bill) Clinton couldn't do," Fletcher, who is British, said. "You know, this is your chance to get a great big gold medal."

Then he added some advice for Trump: "Don't be a loser. Be a winner."