Trump withdraws US from Paris climate agreement for second time
US President Donald Trump has pulled his nation from the Paris climate agreement for a second time.
The decision was one of a raft of executive orders signed by Trump on Monday after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.
Trump signed the orders in front of supporters at the Capital One Arena in Washington.
“I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off,” he said.
“The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”
The US is the world’s biggest historic emitter of greenhouse gases. The move means the United States, Iran, Libya and Yemen are now the only countries in the world outside the 2015 pact.
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty signed by nearly 200 countries in 2015 to limit global temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The pact also seeks to enhance ability of countries to adapt to climate change and to provide financial support to developing nations for mitigation and adaptation efforts.
In 2017, during Trump’s first tenure, he pulled the country out of the agreement, stating that the pact would “undermine” the US economy and put the country “at a permanent disadvantage”.
However, due to a clause in the agreement requiring a one-year wait period for withdrawal to take full effect, it only came to force in 2020, and was halted in 2021 after former President Joe Biden took office and reversed the decision.
Trump also vowed to expand the fossil fuel industry with a promise to “drill, baby, drill”, hence reversing the clean energy efforts of the previous administration.
The Biden administration had on December 2024 committed to cutting down emissions by 61 to 66 percent by 2035.
WHAT DOES THIS EXIT MEAN FOR GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION?
As one of the world’s industrial powerhouses, the US plays a crucial role in the collective effort to limit global warming.
The Global Carbon Project says the US has been responsible for nearly 22 percent of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since 1950.
US withdrawal could reduce global momentum towards stronger climate action and embolden other nations to scale back their commitment and climate policies.
Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), said at the COP29 in Azerbaijan that the US exiting the Paris deal will only compound climate disasters.
“Ignoring it only sends all that vast wealth to competitor economies, while climate disasters like droughts, wildfires and superstorms keep getting worse,” Stiell said.
“The door remains open to the Paris Agreement, and we welcome constructive engagement from any and all countries.”
While it is not mandatory for any country to join the Paris agreement, the US exit could undermine the global goal to limit warming to 1.5°C or well below 2°C, making it harder for other nations to meet their targets.
The European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) confirmed 2024 as the warmest year on record, with global temperatures surpassing the 1.5°C threshold for the first time.
Also, Southern California in US has faced one of its deadliest wildfires in the last couple of weeks, which has killed over 24 persons and rendered many homeless.
These climate incidents underscore the urgency of global climate action and for historic polluters like the US to take accountability.
‘CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN AFRICA ARE SEVERE’
At the last UN conference of parties (COP29), developed countries pledged to commit $300 billion to aid developing nations adapt to the impact of climate change.
While the deal has been criticised for falling short of the $3 trillion proposed by developing countries, the US exiting the Paris Agreement could further reduce the amount of climate funding available to African nations.
Ali Mohamed, chair of the African group of negotiators, urged the Trump administration to “lead by example in reinvigorating the fight against climate change”.
Mohamed noted that the impacts of climate change in Africa are “severe and immediate”, adding that the world is facing a “global challenge that requires global solutions”.
Africa as a continent situated in the equator is particularly vulnerable to climate impacts like droughts, flooding, and desertification. However, climate finance is critical to building resilience and supporting sustainable development.
“This inauguration marks a critical moment for global climate leadership, and we are hopeful that the new administration will seize the opportunity to prioritise climate action, uphold multilateralism, and foster unity in addressing the shared challenges of our planet,” Mohamed added.
He called on the US to take bold emissions reductions action to support adaptation efforts and to reaffirm its commitment to the Paris Agreement.
The AGN chief emphasised the need for the US to promote multilateralism as the foundation for addressing climate change and other global challenges.
“The leadership of the United States is critical in mobilising climate finance, advancing clean energy transitions, and ensuring the equitable implementation of global climate goals,” he added.
“The African Group underscores its belief that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other international platforms remain the most effective avenues for fostering collaboration and accountability.
“We urge the United States to work constructively within these frameworks, recognising that no single nation can tackle climate change alone.”
