U.S. Exits Paris Agreement
U.S. President Donald Trump commenting on a series of executive orders he signed during the inaugural parade at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Monday, January 20, 2025. (Sam Greene-Pool via Imagn Images)
On January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order announcing the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Agreement once again.
The U.S. and the Paris Agreement Timeline
2015: The Paris Agreement was adopted at the UN Climate Change Conference.
June 2017: Then-President Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
November 4, 2020: The U.S. officially withdrew from the Agreement.
January 20, 2021: President Biden signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris Agreement.
February 19, 2021: The U.S. officially rejoined the Paris Agreement.
January 20, 2025: Trump announced the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement again.
Key Points of the Trump Administration's Executive Order
According to the executive order, the United States considers the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement to take immediate effect upon submitting formal written notification to the United Nations. The key provisions of the executive order are as follows:
Formal Withdrawal Procedure: The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations must immediately submit a written notification to the UN Secretary-General indicating the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The U.S. government considers this withdrawal effective immediately upon submission.
Termination of Related International Commitments: The U.S. will withdraw from any agreements or protocols made under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including ceasing to fulfill all related obligations.
Halting Financial Support: The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury, will terminate all financial commitments under the UNFCCC and cancel related international climate funding programs.
Follow-Up Action Plan: After completing the above tasks, the relevant officials will submit a detailed report to the President, proposing further actions to achieve the policy objectives outlined in the executive order.
Freezing and Revoking Climate Financing: The executive order directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue guidance within 10 days to revoke all funds related to international climate financing.
Analysis and Outlook:
The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement highlights the Trump administration's focus on "prioritizing national interests" as the core of its climate policy. This decision is expected to draw significant attention from the international community and have a profound impact on multilateral cooperation in combating climate change. However, as the U.S. remains a part of the UNFCCC, there may still be room for negotiation and collaboration in the future.