Washington, Jan 22 – On his first day as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders, including the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, reigniting global concerns over climate change efforts.
Trump’s move marks the second time he has pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 pact, a decision previously reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021. After signing the executive order, Trump formally notified the United Nations of the country’s decision to leave the landmark accord, which aims to curb global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off,” Trump said at the signing ceremony at the Capital One Arena in Washington. “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”
The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015 by 196 parties, seeks to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Scientists warn that exceeding this threshold could unleash severe climate impacts, including more intense storms, heatwaves, and wildfires.
The United States now joins Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only nations outside the pact. Trump, who has previously called global warming a “hoax,” has consistently prioritized deregulation of the oil and gas industries to boost output.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the need for U.S. leadership in combating climate change, calling on American cities, states, and businesses to fill the void. “The collective efforts under the Paris Agreement have made a difference, but we need to go much further and faster together,” said UN associate spokesperson Florencia Soto Niño.
The withdrawal comes as global temperatures near critical thresholds. The European Copernicus Climate Service recently reported that 2024 was the hottest year on record, bringing Earth perilously close to breaching the 1.5°C limit.
“We must exit this road to ruin – and we have no time to lose,” Guterres warned, urging nations to slash emissions by 43% by 2030 to stave off catastrophic climate impacts.
Experts fear that the U.S. exit could derail international climate efforts, with countries already grappling with economic and geopolitical challenges. Paul Watkinson, a former climate negotiator for France, cautioned that the withdrawal could happen faster than before, as Trump is not bound by the three-year commitment required during his first term.
The move could also undermine U.S. competitiveness in emerging clean energy markets, such as solar power and electric vehicles, at a time when China is consolidating its lead in these sectors. Former President Biden had championed the transition to renewable energy, leveraging subsidies and regulations to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Despite the setbacks, environmental advocates remain optimistic. “It is crucial that the United States remains a leader on environmental issues,” Soto Niño said, reflecting the urgency of reinvigorating global climate goals.
