US President Donald Trump has pulled the country out of the world's most important climate treaty, along with dozens of other international organizations, as part of his "America First" agenda. The move is seen as a major blow to global efforts to combat climate change and comes just months after Trump announced that he would pull the US from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
The decision was made public in a presidential memorandum issued on Wednesday evening, which stated that the US would withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and 65 additional international organizations. The list includes several key global bodies focused on environmental protection, renewable energy development, education, human rights, and democracy.
Climate experts and organizations have widely criticized the move, with many saying it will undermine decades of hard-won diplomacy and create an opening for other countries to fill the vacuum left by the US. "By withdrawing from the IPCC, UNFCCC, and the other vital international partnerships, the Trump administration is undoing decades of hard-won diplomacy, attempting to undermine climate science and sowing distrust around the world," said former US Vice President Al Gore.
The move has also been welcomed by China, which has become a leading player in global green technology efforts. However, many countries are increasingly looking elsewhere for leadership on climate change issues, with some saying that the US's decision is giving them a "get-out-of-jail-free card" to avoid taking responsibility for their own emissions.
The impact of the US withdrawal on the UNFCCC will become clearer during the organization's annual budget allocation process. Climate experts are warning that climate change is becoming more intense, with scientists saying it has been the hottest three years on record and that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.
Trump's administration claims the move is intended to save taxpayers money, but many experts say it will have the opposite effect. "The doors remain open for the US to re-enter in the future," said UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell. "But this latest step back from global leadership on climate cooperation and science can only harm the US economy, jobs, and living standards."
The decision was made public in a presidential memorandum issued on Wednesday evening, which stated that the US would withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and 65 additional international organizations. The list includes several key global bodies focused on environmental protection, renewable energy development, education, human rights, and democracy.
Climate experts and organizations have widely criticized the move, with many saying it will undermine decades of hard-won diplomacy and create an opening for other countries to fill the vacuum left by the US. "By withdrawing from the IPCC, UNFCCC, and the other vital international partnerships, the Trump administration is undoing decades of hard-won diplomacy, attempting to undermine climate science and sowing distrust around the world," said former US Vice President Al Gore.
The move has also been welcomed by China, which has become a leading player in global green technology efforts. However, many countries are increasingly looking elsewhere for leadership on climate change issues, with some saying that the US's decision is giving them a "get-out-of-jail-free card" to avoid taking responsibility for their own emissions.
The impact of the US withdrawal on the UNFCCC will become clearer during the organization's annual budget allocation process. Climate experts are warning that climate change is becoming more intense, with scientists saying it has been the hottest three years on record and that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe.
Trump's administration claims the move is intended to save taxpayers money, but many experts say it will have the opposite effect. "The doors remain open for the US to re-enter in the future," said UNFCCC executive secretary Simon Stiell. "But this latest step back from global leadership on climate cooperation and science can only harm the US economy, jobs, and living standards."