Donald Trump smiling with thumbs up

With Donald Trump’s return to the White House, climate policy in the United States faces another seismic shift. On his first day back in office, January 20th, he wasted no time in rolling back environmental protections, signing a series of executive orders that weakened regulations on energy production and climate initiatives.

Among these sweeping rollbacks, one of the most consequential was his decision to once again withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement through the executive order “Putting America First In International Environmental Agreements”.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change, adopted by 196 countries at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. Its primary goal is to limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels while pursuing efforts to cap warming at 1.5°C. Additionally, the Agreement aims to help nations adapt to climate change and mobilize financial support for developing countries.

To achieve these goals, the Agreement relies on nationally determined contributions (NDCs) which are climate action plans that each country submits every five years, outlining their strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While participation is binding, each nation determines its own commitments based on its capabilities and resources.

As the UNFCCC describes it, “The Paris Agreement is a landmark in the multilateral climate change process because, for the first time, a binding agreement brings all nations together to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.”

The U.S. originally joined the Agreement under the Obama administration in 2015, but Trump made clear upon taking office in 2016 that he intended to withdraw.

In June 2017, he followed through on this promise, citing what he called “the unfair economic burden imposed on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers”. However, due to the Agreement’s formal exit process, the U.S. could not officially begin withdrawal proceedings until November 2019, with the exit taking effect a year later.

As a result, the U.S. was officially out of the Agreement for only 107 days – between November 4, 2020, and February 19, 2021 – before President Joe Biden rejoined upon taking office. Despite this brief absence, the withdrawal by Trump sent shockwaves through the international community as the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases had rejected a global effort to combat climate change.

Now, with Trump back in office, the situation is unfolding differently. While he has once again signed an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, the process is far from immediate. Since the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations has yet to be confirmed, formal notification of withdrawal has not yet been submitted. Under the Agreement’s terms, the U.S. will remain a participant for over a year before officially exiting.

While Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement has support among his administration and loyalists, it faces widespread opposition both nationally and internationally.

Domestically, most Americans support U.S. involvement in the Agreement as they recognize climate change as an escalating threat. According to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about half of Americans “somewhat” or “strongly” oppose withdrawing from the Agreement. Even among Republicans, support for leaving the Agreement is not overwhelming – only about 2 in 10 U.S. adults favor withdrawal, while roughly one-quarter remain neutral.

Beyond public opinion, many national leaders recognize the serious consequences of the U.S. abandoning its global climate commitments.

Former New York City mayor and UN Special Envoy for Climate Change, Michael Bloomberg, has stepped in to mitigate the damage. Through Bloomberg Philanthropies, he has pledged to ensure that “the nation’s funding and reporting obligations to the UN Climate Change Secretariat are met.” According to Bloomberg Philanthropies, “this marks the second time Bloomberg has stepped in to help uphold the country’s funding and reporting commitments under the Paris Agreement amid a lack of U.S. federal climate leadership.”

Bloomberg is not alone in his efforts. America Is All In, a broad coalition of climate leaders, remains determined in its mission to push for ambitious national climate policies. Originally formed after Trump’s first withdrawal from the Agreement, the coalition represents nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population and approximately three-quarters of U.S. GDP. With Trump’s renewed attempt to leave the Agreement, the coalition has redoubled its efforts, reaffirming its commitment to aggressive climate action at the state and local levels.

Policy organizations have also condemned Trump’s decision. The Center for American Progress warned of the dire consequences of federal inaction:

“With the next decade being the most critical window to curb global warming, the consequences of federal inaction will be felt in every corner of the country. Climate change is already intensifying hurricanes, causing destructive floods, and fueling wildfires, as evidenced by the recent devastation in Los Angeles. These extreme weather events cost the United States more than $100 billion annually, displacing thousands of families and ultimately costing people their lives and livelihoods. The United States, for all its wealth and power, is already suffering under the early effects of climate change. In tearing up the Paris Agreement, the Trump administration is stripping the United States of its ability to shape other countries’ pollution choices, putting Americans at even greater risk in the next round of terrible disasters.”

City leaders have also been vocal in their opposition.

The Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, stated that “as the new federal administration abandons its duty to protect the planet from environmental collapse, Chicago will not waver from our duty to protect our communities’ health, safety, and well-being.”

The Mayor of Phoenix and the Climate Mayors Chair, Kate Gallego, stated that “regardless of the federal government’s actions, mayors are not backing down on our commitment to the Paris Agreement. The cost of inaction is simply too high.”

Beyond the U.S., international leaders have also denounced Trump’s decision while reaffirming their own commitments to the Agreement. Despite America’s withdrawal, the global effort to combat climate change remains strong.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, Mao Ning, stated that “China is concerned about the US announcement that it will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Climate change is a common challenge facing all of humanity. No country can stay out of it, and no country can be immune to it.”

The EU Commissioner, Wopke Hoekstra, stated that “it’s a truly unfortunate development that the world’s largest economy, and one of our closest allies in the fight against climate change, is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Despite this setback, we remain committed to working with the US and our international partners to address the pressing issue of climate change….The Paris Agreement has strong foundations and is here to stay.”

Mayor of London and C4 Co-Chair, Sadiq Khan, stated that “it is deeply disappointing that President Trump has chosen to withdraw the United States for the Paris Climate Agreement, once again. Now couldn’t be a more perilous time for world leaders to renege on their climate responsibilities and ignore the science on the existential threat posed by climate change.”

President and CEO of the World Resources Institute, Ani Dasgupta, stated that “it simply makes no sense for the United States to voluntarily give up political influence and pass up opportunities to shape the exploding green energy market.”

The international response to Trump’s withdrawal underscores the global significance of the Paris Agreement and the widespread disappointment in the U.S. retreating from its climate commitments. While world leaders reaffirm their dedication to addressing climate change, many have also expressed concern over the broader implications of America’s departure – not just for global emissions reduction efforts, but also for U.S. influence in shaping the future of clean energy and environmental policy.

In conclusion, Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement marks a major shift in U.S. climate policy. While he has support from some groups, many national leaders, local governments, and international partners strongly oppose this move. Despite the U.S. withdrawal, the global commitment to fighting climate change remains strong, with countries and cities continuing to push for action. As the world faces the growing climate crisis, the question remains: what role will the U.S. play?