The Paris Climate Agreement is an international treaty that aims to address the global issue of climate change. It was adopted in 2015 and signed by 195 countries, including the United States. However, in 2017, the US announced its intention to withdraw from the agreement, a decision that caused widespread concern and criticism.
The Paris Climate Agreement sets out a framework for countries to tackle climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Each country is required to submit its own national climate action plan, called a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which outlines its targets and strategies for reducing emissions. The agreement also establishes a global goal of limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational target of limiting it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The US, under the Obama administration, played a key role in negotiating the Paris Agreement. The country was one of the first to sign and ratify the treaty, with then-President Obama describing it as “a turning point for our planet.” However, when President Trump took office in 2017, he announced that the US would withdraw from the agreement, citing concerns about the impact on the US economy.
The withdrawal process from the Paris Agreement is a lengthy one, taking at least three years from the date that a country gives formal notification of its intention to withdraw. The US gave formal notification in August 2017, and its withdrawal became effective on November 4, 2020, the day after the US presidential elections.
Despite its withdrawal, the US remains a significant player in the global effort to tackle climate change. Many US states and cities have pledged to continue to work towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, and several have set their own ambitious targets for emissions reductions. Additionally, the incoming Biden administration has signaled its intention to rejoin the Paris Agreement and prioritize climate action.
In conclusion, while the US is no longer formally part of the Paris Climate Agreement, its withdrawal does not diminish the importance of the treaty or the urgent need for global action on climate change. The US still has a critical role to play in tackling this pressing issue, both domestically and in collaboration with other countries around the world.