Shadrack Nyakoe
On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term as President of the United States, initiating significant changes to U.S. climate and energy policies. Among his first actions was the announcement of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement.
This marks the second time Trump has moved to exit the international climate accord, a decision that will take a year to finalize. During this period, the administration intends to severely limit participation in https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.bbc.com/news/live/ce8jy9j91y5t&ved=2ahUKEwiks5r4m4aLAxUrZ0EAHdcVPboQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE&usg=AOvVaw3r5bi1aOT460H8tZED15Vwglobal climate forums, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Once the withdrawal is complete, the U.S. will remain as an observer in Paris Agreement discussions, unable to vote.
The decision makes the United States the only nation among 193 parties to exit the Paris Agreement, a platform where global efforts to combat climate change are coordinated. Rejoining the agreement under a future administration, however, would be a relatively simple process, taking only 30 days.
In addition to the Paris Agreement withdrawal, the administration declared an “Energy Emergency,” granting broad powers to increase fossil fuel production, particularly in Alaska, and expand critical mineral development for renewable energy technologies. However, the executive orders also included a halt on federal leases for wind energy, which currently accounts for over 10 percent of the U.S. electricity grid. Critics have pointed out the inconsistencies in these measures, as fossil fuel production had already reached record highs under President Biden, with industry leaders stating they were operating at capacity.
Other climate-related actions taken on Trump’s first day in office include efforts to roll back vehicle emissions standards, dismantle the recently established American Climate Corps, and suspend much of the climate-related funding approved during the Biden administration under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Biden’s climate initiatives had led to over 775,000 new manufacturing jobs, many of which were created in Republican-led districts.
Globally, Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement has drawn widespread criticism. Leaders and climate experts expressed concern about the move’s impact on global climate action. Jiwoh Abdulai, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Environment, stated that “climate change disasters do not conform to political ideologies,” emphasizing the need for continued international collaboration. Fred Njehu of Greenpeace Africa described the withdrawal as self-defeating, warning that it jeopardizes global progress in tackling the climate crisis. Kenyan climate scientist Dr. Joyce Kimutai highlighted the disproportionate burden faced by vulnerable communities and stressed that the cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of action.
Environmental policy experts have also raised concerns about the economic and diplomatic consequences of the United States retreating from climate leadership. Julius Mbatia, a climate policy expert, argued that abandoning the Paris Agreement undermines the country’s ability to influence the growing global green economy.
As Trump’s administration pushes forward with its energy policies, the international community is left grappling with the implications of America’s diminished role in addressing the escalating climate crisis. The decision to prioritize fossil fuels over clean energy and global cooperation raises questions about the long-term impacts on both the environment and U.S. global standing.
Patmoz
