The Paris Agreement is a historical move towards international collaboration in the struggle against climate change. Nevertheless, the US made one of the most shocking climate diplomacy moments in 2017. At that time, President Donald Trump declared his plans of US withdrawal from the treaty. To those who have not experienced the problem, this may seem like a puzzle. Indeed, why would a large country abandon a world initiative that aims at safeguarding the earth? Let’s simplify this down.
What Is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement is a global climate accord that was signed in 2015. It has the primary aim of ensuring that global warming is kept at a level that is less than 2 °C and hopefully less than 1.5 °C. The countries that sign the agreement commit themselves to act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate changes. Notably, the agreement is adaptable: each country makes its own goals, referred to as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and revises them regularly. The treaty also provides financial and technical assistance to developing nations struggling to cope with climate change. It is simply a coalition of nations in the world where each nation donates what it can.
Why Did the US Withdraw?
The Trump administration had a number of reasons to withdraw out of the Paris Agreement. These causes can be divided into economic, political, and ideological causes.
1. Economic Concerns
The argument concerning money and jobs was one of the strongest ones. The administration asserted that adherence to the Paris Agreement would be detrimental to the U.S economy. They felt that these climate pledges would impaired sectors, such as coal, oil, and manufacturing. They can bring about a loss of jobs in the traditional energy industries. To add more, there can be an increase the cost of American goods, which makes them less competitive.
In brief, supporters of the withdrawal described it as an attempt to protect American jobs, prevent higher compliance costs for businesses, and prioritize the competitiveness of U.S. industries in the global market.
2. National Sovereignty
The other reason was concerning independence. The Trump government felt that the Paris Agreement made excessive demands on the U.S. They argued that the American energy or industry policies are not under the jurisdiction of global treaties. They wanted something lighter and less binding instead with U.S determined to make goals of its own regarding climate without interference.
3. Skepticism of Fairness
Critics argued that the Paris Agreement treated the U.S. unfairly compared to other major emitters. The administration claimed that nations like China and India, among the world’s largest polluters, were not required to cut emissions as rapidly. On their part, they were of such kind that the U.S was sacrificing and other individuals were not pulling their own.
4. Climate Science Skepticism
Lastly, the withdrawal was in line with the rest of the Trump administration political agenda of often questioning climate science. The administration neglected to concentrate on renewable energy and rather concentrated on fossil fuels, deregulation and what the administration termed as an America First agenda.
When Did the US Withdraw from and Rejoin the Paris Agreement?
The U.S could not be abandoned at the time. A cooling off period was provided in the demands of the Paris Agreement. It started its official withdrawal in 2019 and ironically was finished on the following day, November 4, 2020 the day after the U.S. presidential election.
At the beginning of 2021, President Joe Biden reversed the move and re-entered the Paris Agreement. This was a radical shift in the American climate policy that sent a message to the rest of the world that the U.S. wanted to lead the world in the climate action again. However the back and forth indicated the polarization of U.S. on climate. It also shows how international agreements can shift with changes in a country’s leadership.
Why is US Withdrawal So Important to the World?
The U.S is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases in the globe. Most analysts feared that withdrawing the support of the Paris Agreement would be retrogressive to the entire world. The other nations would also withdraw or slow their pace regarding their commitments without the intervention of the U.S. Going back, however, had a new hope as its ending. The U.S. is no longer an outcast and thus, it has a bigger chance of cooperation, funding and guidance on clean energy. However, the issue is gigantic: even without the departure of all the countries of the board, the existing promises are not enough to reach the goal of 1.5 °C.
Final Thoughts
Therefore, the withdrawal of the American Government in the Paris Agreement was a climax to the world climate politics. It introduced the clash of economic gains, national independence and global cooperation. Even though the move raises serious questions on the ability of the world to combat climate change, the U.S. rejoined in 2021, which offered it a boost. The U.S. pulling out is a wake-up call in the sense that climate action cannot simply rely on international cooperation, it must be political as well. Only with perseverance, we will be able to save the planet to the future generation.
