President Donald Trump signed executive actions Monday, January 20, 2025 and cemented his intent to double down on fossil fuels and reverse America’s progress on climate change and clean energy, including signing orders to pull United States out of the Paris climate agreement.
He signed several other executive orders hours after being inaugurated as the 47th president.
Under Trump’s marker, the fossil fuel industry was promised new horizons and renewable energy industries were put in the back seat of the American economy.
The implications of the United States withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement are far-reaching and multifaceted. Some of the potential consequences include:
Environmental Implications
- Increased global emissions: The US is one of the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Without US participation, global emissions may increase, making it more challenging to achieve the agreement’s goal of limiting warming to well below 2°C.
- Loss of momentum: The Paris Agreement relies on collective action and cooperation. A US withdrawal could undermine the momentum and confidence in the agreement, potentially leading to a decrease in global efforts to address climate change.
- Reduced investment in clean energy: The US withdrawal could lead to reduced investment in clean energy technologies, hindering the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Economic Implications
- Loss of economic opportunities: The transition to a low-carbon economy is expected to create new economic opportunities in clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure. A US withdrawal could mean missing out on these opportunities.
- Increased costs: Climate change is projected to have significant economic costs, including damage to infrastructure, increased healthcare costs, and loss of productivity. A US withdrawal could lead to increased costs for the country.
- Trade implications: The US withdrawal could lead to trade implications, as other countries may impose carbon tariffs or other trade measures on US goods.
Social Implications
- Increased vulnerability: Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including low-income communities, indigenous peoples, and small-island developing states. A US withdrawal could exacerbate these vulnerabilities.
- Health impacts: Climate change has significant health implications, including increased respiratory problems, heat stress, and the spread of disease. A US withdrawal could lead to increased health impacts.
- Global cooperation: The Paris Agreement is a symbol of global cooperation on a critical issue. A US withdrawal could undermine global cooperation and trust.
Geopolitical Implications
- Shift in global leadership: A US withdrawal could create a vacuum in global leadership on climate change, potentially allowing other countries, such as China or the European Union, to take on a more prominent role.
- Strained international relationships: The US withdrawal could strain relationships with other countries, particularly those that have been actively engaged in the Paris Agreement.
- Impact on global governance: The Paris Agreement is a key component of the global governance framework on climate change. A US withdrawal could undermine the effectiveness of this framework.
It’s worth noting that the US officially withdrew from the Paris Agreement on November 4, 2020, but rejoined the agreement on February 19, 2021, after President Joe Biden took office.
Read more at Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com)
