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Sunday, Feb 22, 2026
Outside the box.
Trump Announces Renewed US Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement
President Donald Trump declares intention to exit landmark climate accord as he begins second term, impacting global climate efforts.
President Donald Trump announced on Monday his decision to once again withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement, as he was inaugurated for his second term.
This move marks a reversion to his 2017 announcement when he initially stated the US would exit the global climate accord, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Paris Agreement, crafted in 2015, is a voluntary pact in which participating countries commit to set targets to cut emissions from the use of fossil fuels.
These targets are projected to become progressively stringent, with an upcoming deadline in February 2025 for the submission of new individual country plans.
The Biden administration, before leaving office, proposed a plan for the US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 60% by the year 2035. The renewed intention of withdrawal by the Trump administration has prompted reactions both domestically and internationally.
Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and a contributor to the Paris Agreement, expressed that while the withdrawal is regrettable, global efforts and economic momentum towards clean energy continue.
Tubiana noted that the International Energy Agency anticipates the global clean energy market could exceed two trillion dollars by 2035.
Domestically, Gina McCarthy, former White House climate adviser, highlighted the importance of continuing to support the US clean energy sector, associating it with economic benefits and energy independence.
Despite Trump's previous withdrawal, experts like Alden Meyer from the think tank E3G observed that no other country followed the US’s decision, instead reinforcing their commitments to the accord.
The impacts of climate change remain evident, underscored by recent extreme weather events domestically, which have influenced profitably conversations on climate action.
As the second largest annual carbon emitter, trailing China, the United States contributes significantly to historical carbon dioxide emissions, holding responsibility for nearly 22% of the carbon in the atmosphere since 1950, as reported by the Global Carbon Project.
Any US withdrawal from the agreement requires a year-long process, with Trump’s earlier withdrawal having gone into effect the day after the 2020 presidential elections.
Among climate advocates, there is concern that a second withdrawal under Trump might hamper international progress in climate change mitigation, potentially influencing China's future engagement with emission reduction commitments.
This move marks a reversion to his 2017 announcement when he initially stated the US would exit the global climate accord, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Paris Agreement, crafted in 2015, is a voluntary pact in which participating countries commit to set targets to cut emissions from the use of fossil fuels.
These targets are projected to become progressively stringent, with an upcoming deadline in February 2025 for the submission of new individual country plans.
The Biden administration, before leaving office, proposed a plan for the US to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 60% by the year 2035. The renewed intention of withdrawal by the Trump administration has prompted reactions both domestically and internationally.
Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and a contributor to the Paris Agreement, expressed that while the withdrawal is regrettable, global efforts and economic momentum towards clean energy continue.
Tubiana noted that the International Energy Agency anticipates the global clean energy market could exceed two trillion dollars by 2035.
Domestically, Gina McCarthy, former White House climate adviser, highlighted the importance of continuing to support the US clean energy sector, associating it with economic benefits and energy independence.
Despite Trump's previous withdrawal, experts like Alden Meyer from the think tank E3G observed that no other country followed the US’s decision, instead reinforcing their commitments to the accord.
The impacts of climate change remain evident, underscored by recent extreme weather events domestically, which have influenced profitably conversations on climate action.
As the second largest annual carbon emitter, trailing China, the United States contributes significantly to historical carbon dioxide emissions, holding responsibility for nearly 22% of the carbon in the atmosphere since 1950, as reported by the Global Carbon Project.
Any US withdrawal from the agreement requires a year-long process, with Trump’s earlier withdrawal having gone into effect the day after the 2020 presidential elections.
Among climate advocates, there is concern that a second withdrawal under Trump might hamper international progress in climate change mitigation, potentially influencing China's future engagement with emission reduction commitments.
