US President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from the Paris climate agreement, marking his second departure from the global pact.

The decision, one of his first actions during his second term, was announced at a signing ceremony at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., where he addressed an enthusiastic crowd.

“I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off,” Trump declared. “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”

It will take about a year for the withdrawal to be formalized. The agreement, endorsed by nearly 200 countries aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. 

The decision places the US, the world’s largest historic emitter of greenhouse, alongside Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only countries not party to the 2015 climate accord, which seeks to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. As the world’s largest historic emitter of greenhouse gases, the US departure from the agreement carries significant weight.

Trump’s return to office signals a dramatic reversal of the climate policies championed by former President Joe Biden, who had recommitted the US to the Paris agreement in 2021.

During Trump’s first term, the decision to withdraw the US from the Paris agreement had a delayed impact. Although he announced the exit shortly after taking office in 2017, it did not take effect until November 2020 due to United Nations regulations requiring a three-year waiting period.

In the present case, the withdrawal could be finalised within a year, as the administration is no longer bound by the accord’s initial commitment timeline.

In the final weeks before Trump’s inauguration, the outgoing Biden administration submitted updated plans under the Paris agreement, setting ambitious 2035 emissions targets for the US.

These goals were intended as a “capstone” to Biden’s climate legacy, which included the landmark clean energy investments of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

Biden had also pledged to cut US emissions by 61–66% by 2035, compared to 2005 levels, as part of an ambitious plan to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. However, Trump has renewed his commitment to expanding fossil fuel production under the slogan “drill, baby, drill.”

This policy direction starkly contrasts Biden’s efforts to bolster clean energy initiatives through the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, a cornerstone of his climate legacy.

Estimates from Carbon Brief suggest Trump’s policies could add up to 4 billion tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030, further undermining global climate action.

While Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement aligns with his “America first” priorities, critics argue that the decision undermines the global fight against climate change and places short-term economic interests above long-term environmental sustainability.

Impacts on Africa

Trump’s decision also jeopardises climate finance for developing nations, particularly in Africa, where climate challenges like droughts and desertification are severe. At COP29, developed countries pledged $300 billion to support adaptation and mitigation efforts, but critics argue this falls short of the $1.3 trillion proposed by developing nations.

Ali Mohamed, chair of the African Group of Negotiators, urged the US to reconsider its position. “Climate finance is critical for building resilience in vulnerable regions. We need bold action to address this global challenge,” he said, stressing the need for US leadership in fostering multilateral solutions to climate change.

Global Implications

The US withdrawal could have far-reaching consequences for global climate efforts. As the US accounts for nearly 22% of atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions since 1950, its departure from the Paris agreement may embolden other nations to scale back their commitments, weakening the collective goal to limit global warming.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), condemned the move at COP29 in Azerbaijan.

“Ignoring the climate crisis will only worsen disasters like droughts, wildfires, and superstorms,” he stated. “The door remains open to the Paris agreement, and we welcome constructive engagement from any and all countries.”

The urgency of climate action was underscored by the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which reported 2024 as the warmest year on record, with global temperatures surpassing the 1.5°C threshold. Meanwhile, wildfires in Southern California have claimed over 24 lives, leaving many homeless.