Trump Withdraws U.S. from Paris Agreement on First Day of Second Term

On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, the landmark international climate treaty in which nearly 200 countries pledged to work together to limit global warming.

The decision comes at a critical time for the planet, as humanity grapples with the growing impacts of climate change and the rising costs of climate-related disasters. The world surpassed a key threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming in 2024, a milestone first identified when the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015.

What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement, also known as the Paris Climate Accord, was adopted in 2015 at a United Nations climate summit by more than 190 countries. Its primary goal is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, with an aspirational target of 1.5 degrees Celsius, as urged by climate scientists.

The agreement, however, is non-binding. Countries set their own climate pollution reduction targets and methods, leaving no legal obligation to meet these goals. While the accord was a major step forward in global climate cooperation, critics note that its lack of enforcement mechanisms has limited its impact.

What Was the U.S. Climate Goal?

In December 2024, the Biden administration set an ambitious climate goal for the United States: to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 66% below 2005 levels by 2035. This target reflected the pathway the U.S. could take under a climate-focused administration.

Climate advocates hailed the goal as bold, but warned that under Trump’s leadership, the country would likely veer further off track. “We’re not on course for this target, and it’s unlikely we’ll make progress under a Trump administration,” said Kate Larsen, an expert in international energy and climate research.

U.S. History with the Paris Agreement

The U.S. played a leading role in negotiating the Paris Agreement during the Obama administration, signing on in 2015 alongside nearly 200 nations. However, in 2017, Trump announced his intention to withdraw, a move formalized on November 4, 2020, a day after Joe Biden’s election victory.

Biden reentered the agreement on the first day of his presidency in 2021, reaffirming the U.S. commitment to global climate action. However, Trump reversed this progress on his first day back in office in January 2025, citing plans to expand fossil fuel production.

Can the U.S. Rejoin the Paris Agreement Again?

Yes, the U.S. can rejoin the Paris Agreement in the future, but Trump’s next steps could complicate the process. A "Project 2025" plan from the Heritage Foundation recommends that Trump completely withdraw the U.S. from the overarching United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which governs the Paris Agreement. Such a move would severely disrupt international climate negotiations and make re-entry more challenging for a future administration.

Despite this, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasized that “the door remains open to the Paris Agreement.” He highlighted the global clean energy boom, valued at $2 trillion in 2024, as an opportunity for nations to thrive. Stiell warned that countries refusing to embrace clean energy risk economic setbacks, while climate disasters like wildfires, droughts, and superstorms continue to inflict devastating economic and social costs.

Global Implications

Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement once again raises concerns about the U.S.’s role in combating climate change. With the world at a critical juncture, the move has sparked debate about the country’s future in global climate leadership and the broader implications for international climate cooperation.