January 21, (THEWILL) – For the second time, former President Donald Trump has pulled the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, halting the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases from participating in global efforts to combat climate change.
At a rally in downtown Washington on Monday, Trump signed an executive order formalizing the withdrawal, calling the accord “unfair and one-sided.”
“I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off. The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity,” he declared, to the cheers of his supporters.
This marks the second instance of a US withdrawal under Trump’s leadership. In 2017, just months into his first term, Trump announced the United States’ departure from the historic pact, a decision swiftly reversed by President Joe Biden on his first day in office in 2021.
Signed by 196 countries in 2015, the Paris Agreement was a landmark accord aimed at curbing the global climate crisis.
It set ambitious targets to limit global temperature increases to “well below 2°C,” with an ideal target of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Scientists warn that exceeding these thresholds could trigger irreversible damage to Earth’s climate systems, resulting in devastating consequences for ecosystems, economies, and human populations.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres had earlier cautioned about the implications of a potential second US withdrawal. Speaking in November, Guterres emphasised the importance of American leadership in global climate initiatives.
Gutierrez said, “The Paris Agreement can survive, but people sometimes can lose important organs or lose the legs and survive. But we don’t want a crippled Paris Agreement. We want a real Paris Agreement.
“It’s very important that the United States remain in the Paris Agreement, and more than remain in the Paris Agreement, that the United States adopts the kind of policies that are necessary to make the 1.5 degrees still a realistic objective.”
The withdrawal is expected to have far-reaching consequences for international climate policies, as well as ongoing global efforts to combat climate change. Critics argue that the absence of the United States could undermine the global momentum needed to meet the accord’s goals, leaving the world more vulnerable to the escalating impacts of climate change.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
