President Donald Trump made many risky moves within the first few days of his presidency, one of which will be withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement.
According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement is a “legally binding international treaty on climate change” that works to combat our current climate crisis. The United States originally joined the Paris Agreement in 2016, and big steps were being taken to protect the environment from the post-industrial revolution issues we have created. During the four years we were a signatory to the Paris Agreement, many strides have resulted in positive progress. However, according to Carbon Brief, the U.S. is still the world’s second-highest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
During Trump’s first term, he openly disagreed with the policies of the Paris Agreement, so he withdrew the United States from the climate-saving deal. However, the Biden Administration gained control and rejoined the agreement in 2021.
Officially signed to order in 2015 by the UN, the BBC reported that UNFCCC’s major goal was to prevent the global temperature from rising above 1.5℃ and to keep it “well below” 2.0℃. However, today’s temperature is 1.18℃, and we are quickly approaching dangerously high temperatures. For context, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that the global temperature in 1920 was -0.25℃, meaning the last century has raised 1.43℃. NASA warns the population that there will be deadly consequences if global temperatures continue to rise and eventually meet 2℃ above pre-industrial levels. With all this being said, our 1.43℃ increase within the last 100 years is a great cause for concern.
An alternative to the exit would be if the Trump administration chose to submit a revised and severely downgraded climate action plan as required under Paris – Naturally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UN. As of January 2025, over 190 countries in the UN have endorsed the Paris Agreement on climate change. While Trump’s withdrawal won’t take place until 2026, we must prepare for the consequences if Trump chooses to exit.
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), co-author of the Green New Deal resolution, has a plan to push back on Trump’s decision called the We Are Still In Resolution, and the United States needs your help to combat the exit. Contact your local senators or visit Markey’s official website here to help.