US Withdrew from the Paris Agreement

General Studies Paper-3

Context: US President Donald Trump decided to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement again — having first done so in 2017.

About

• On his first day in office, Trump also ordered an immediate revocation of all climate finance commitments made by the US.
• He has promised to reverse some of the climate-friendly energy policies of the last few years, and reiterated his commitment to extracting more oil and gas to meet America’s energy requirements.
• Background:
  • Trump’s predecessor (and successor) Joe Biden had taken the US back into the Paris Agreement in 2021.
  • The US had not become a party to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol as well, having refused to ratify it after signing on to it.
• Reasons for the Trump’s Policy:
  • He opined that the international regulations on climate change have been unfair to the US because similar restrictions are not placed on China, on account of it being classified as a developing country.

Implications

• Emission Targets: US has set the target to reduce its emissions by 50-52% by 2030 (from 2005 levels) and by 62-66% by 2035.
  • As of now, the US is not on track to meet its 2030 emissions goal — and four years of Trump will make it almost certain that these are not achieved.
• Second Largest Emittor: The US is the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The objective of the Paris Agreement cannot be achieved without its full participation in the common effort to reduce emissions.
• Increase in Fossil fuel Production: Trump has been explicit about drilling new oil wells and gas fields this time, as a result fossil fuel production could rise in the next four years.
• Funding of Climate Finance: It will further squeeze in funds available for climate action for the developing countries.
  • The US has the greatest influence on mobilising private and international finance, Trump’s policies could see this source drying up as well.
• Impact on other countries: Experts fear other countries, especially China, could use it as an excuse to ease off their own efforts to curb carbon emissions.

Conclusion

• Global Warming: The world is now long-term 2.3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.3 degrees Celsius) above mid-1800s temperatures.
  • Global temperatures last year passed the warming mark of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit, and it was the warmest year on record.
• US Share in Global Warming: According to the Global Carbon Project, the U.S. is responsible for nearly 22% of the carbon dioxide put in the atmosphere since 1950.
  • The US has the largest share of historical emissions, and therefore also the greatest responsibility to clean up.
  • The wildfires in Los Angeles are the latest reminder that Americans, like everyone else, are affected by worsening climate change.
  • America could stay focused on growing the clean energy industry and technologies for driving down energy costs.