US Formally Exits Paris Agreement That Aimed To Stop Climate Change

The United States has now officially withdrawn from the Paris Agreement as of today, November 4.

The White House put the wheels in motion exactly a year ago, after the administration claimed it was an ‘unfair economic burden’ on the country.

With 189 countries forming the alliance to battle the ongoing devastation and irreparable damage emissions are doing to the planet, Trump’s government deemed it too much, despite the only requirements being that each participating country sets its own targets for greenhouse gas reduction.

Under the terms of the accords, each nation is required to accurately report the progress of their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While the rules don’t seem too taxing, the Trump administration opted to withdraw following concerns over the effect it would have on American businesses.

The Paris accord aims to keep average global temperatures well below the 2°C (3.6°F) mark, ideally no more than 1.5°C (2.7° F), compared to pre-industrial levels.

With six more nations signing up to the programme in recent months, it’s a damning message that the US sends to the world in terms of its willingness to cooperate on environmental goals. It must be noted, however, that while the US has distanced itself from any collective efforts on a federal level, American states, cities, and businesses do conduct their own initiatives.

Now, the US’s absence from a pact it joined five years ago under the Obama administration means it will be more difficult to measure aims and results with other nations.

Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden has said that if he were elected, he would be in favour of rejoining the initiative.