The United States has formally withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time, following a decision by President Donald Trump’s administration, marking a significant shift in global climate diplomacy.
President Trump signed an executive order to exit the landmark climate accord on January 20, 2025, the day of his inauguration. According to the United Nations climate secretariat, the withdrawal became legally effective on Tuesday, one year after Washington formally notified the UN of its intention to leave the agreement.
The Paris Agreement aims to limit the rise in global temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational target of keeping warming close to 1.5 degrees. The US withdrawal means the country no longer considers itself bound by commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the accord.
The move follows a broader retreat by the US from international climate engagement, including its absence from the UN Climate Change Conference COP30, held in Belém, Brazil, in November.
Climate experts and international officials have warned that the decision could create a substantial gap in global climate financing, particularly affecting funds dedicated to mitigation and adaptation efforts in developing and vulnerable countries. The US has historically been one of the largest contributors to international climate finance.
The withdrawal is expected to have far-reaching implications for global efforts to combat climate change, as the United States remains one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Analysts say the decision places additional pressure on other major economies to strengthen their climate commitments and fill the leadership vacuum left by Washington.
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