US Withdrawal From Paris Agreement 2015

Table of Contents

Context: Recently the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Agreement 2015.

About Paris Agreement

It is a legally binding international treaty that aims to reduce Greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change.
It aims to limit global warming to below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit it to 5°C.

It lays down the procedure and timeline for a country’s withdrawal from the treaty.
If a member state wants to withdraw from the treaty, it has to submit the notification of a withdrawal to the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN.
Withdrawal becomes effective one year after notification to the UN’s Office of Legal Affairs.
During this period, the country must fully participate in the Agreement’s activities.

Under the Paris Agreement, nearly every country in the world agreed to a goal of limiting global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
It is a pact that is part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992) in the Rio Earth Summit.
It is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.

The U.S. withdrawal poses a significant setback to global climate mitigation efforts.
This will give China and the European Union a competitive edge in the booming clean energy economy and lead to fewer opportunities for American workers.
By exiting the Paris Agreement, the U.S. has eroded its standing in global climate discussions.
- This decision undermines international efforts to combat climate change and diminishes the nation’s influence in shaping future environmental policies.
Despite federal rollbacks, state-level initiatives and private-sector leadership continue to push for sustainability.
E.g., California’s climate laws and international fashion brands remain committed to environmental goals, highlighting the importance of subnational and private actions in driving climate commitments.

Facts

The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2020 but rejoined in 2021.
Out of 198 members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 195 have ratified the treaty.