Written by Valerie Volcovici and Garrett Renshaw
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump once again withdrew the United States from the Paris climate agreement on Monday, excluding the world's largest historical emitter from global efforts to combat climate change for the second time in a decade.
The move puts the United States alongside Iran, Libya and Yemen as the only countries in the world outside the 2015 deal, in which governments agreed to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst. Effects of climate change.
It reflects Trump's skepticism about global warming, which he has called a hoax, and fits into his broader agenda to deregulate American oil and gas companies so they can maximize production.
Trump signed the executive order to withdraw from the agreement in front of his supporters gathered in Capital One (NYSE:) Arena in Washington.
“I will immediately withdraw from the unfair and biased scam of the Paris Climate Agreement,” he said before signing the order.
“The United States will not sabotage our industries while China pollutes with impunity,” Trump said.
Despite the withdrawal, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is confident that American cities, states and companies “will continue to demonstrate vision and leadership by working toward resilient, low-carbon economic growth that will create good jobs,” the UN spokesperson said. Florencia Soto Nino, in a written statement.
“It is important that the United States remains a leader on environmental issues,” she said. “Collective efforts under the Paris Agreement have made a difference but we need to move forward together much faster.”
The United States must formally notify UN Secretary-General António Guterres of its withdrawal, which – under the terms of the agreement – will take effect after one year.
The United States is already the world's largest oil producer, thanks to a years-long drilling boom in Texas, New Mexico and elsewhere, fueled by hydraulic fracturing technology and strong global prices since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Second American withdrawal
Trump also withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement during his first term in office, although the process took years and was immediately reversed by the Biden presidency in 2021. This time the withdrawal will likely take less time – perhaps as much as one year. Because Trump will not be bound by the deal's initial three-year commitment.
This time could also be more damaging to global climate efforts, said Paul Watkinson, a former climate negotiator and senior policy adviser in France.
The United States is currently the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world after China, and its departure undermines the global ambition to reduce those emissions.
“It will be more difficult this time because we are in the process of implementation, and we face real choices,” Watkinson said.
The world is now on pace for global warming of more than 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, according to a recent United Nations report, a level that scientists warn could trigger cascading effects such as sea level rise, heat waves, and devastating storms.
Countries are already struggling to make the sharp cuts in emissions needed to stem the expected increase in temperatures, as wars, political tensions and tight government budgets push climate change down the list of priorities.
Trump's approach stands in stark contrast to that of former President Joe Biden, who wanted the United States to lead global climate efforts and sought to encourage a shift away from oil and gas using subsidies and regulations.
Trump said he intends to eliminate those subsidies and regulations to support the country's budget and grow the economy, but he said he can do so while ensuring clean air and water in the United States.
Li Xu, an expert on climate diplomacy at the Asia Community Policy Institute, said the US withdrawal threatens to undermine the US's ability to compete with China in clean energy markets such as solar energy and electric cars.
“China will win, and the United States risks falling further behind,” he said.
