Trump to withdraw US from Paris Climate Agreement again, White House confirms

With this move, the United States joins a small group of nations — such as Iran, Libya, and Yemen — that are not part of the 2015 accord. The agreement was designed to limit global temperature rises to 1.5°C (2.7°F) above pre-industrial levels, a threshold that scientists say is crucial to avoiding the worst impacts of climate change.

Global reaction and UN hopes

The decision has prompted concern among global leaders and environmental advocates. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, through a spokesperson, expressed confidence that US cities, states, and businesses would continue to push for low-carbon economic growth despite the federal government’s withdrawal. “The collective efforts under the Paris Agreement have made a difference, but we need to go much further and faster together,” U.N. associate spokesperson Florencia Soto Niño, told news agency Reuters.

While the United States remains a top producer of oil and natural gas, largely due to a drilling boom powered by fracking technology, the move comes at a time when nations are being urged to take aggressive action to combat climate change. The UN’s recent climate report warns that the world is currently on track for a 3°C temperature rise by the end of the century, a scenario that could trigger devastating heat waves, storms, and rising sea levels.

The implications

This will be the second time Trump has pulled the US out of the Paris climate agreement, following his initial exit during his first term. While the Biden administration swiftly reversed that decision upon taking office in 2021, Trump’s second withdrawal could have more immediate and lasting effects. According to experts, the process could be expedited, taking as little as a year compared to the lengthy process required by the original terms of the accord.

Paul Watkinson, a former climate negotiator, noted that this second exit comes at a critical moment, as countries are now fully engaged in implementing their climate commitments. “It will be harder this time because we are in the thick of implementation, up against real choices,” he told Reuters. The US is currently the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and its departure from the agreement is expected to seriously undermine global efforts to reduce emissions.

A departure from Biden’s climate agenda

Trump’s approach to climate policy stands in sharp contrast to that of his predecessor, Joe Biden, who made tackling climate change a central pillar of his administration. Biden sought to position the US as a leader in global climate efforts, implementing regulations and subsidies to promote clean energy and move away from reliance on fossil fuels.

In contrast, Trump has committed to reversing many of Biden’s policies, including the subsidies and regulations that incentivize renewable energy development. He argues that loosening environmental regulations will help balance the federal budget and grow the economy, while still ensuring clean air and water for Americans.

However, critics warn that abandoning the Paris accord could set the US back in the global race to dominate clean energy markets, such as solar power and electric vehicles, leaving room for China to seize leadership. Li Shuo, a climate diplomacy expert with the Asia Society Policy Institute, noted that Trump’s withdrawal risks weakening the US’s ability to compete in these critical markets, at a time when clean energy is seen as the future of the global economy.

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