Washington, D.C., January 29, 2025 – On his first day back in office, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, arguing that the deal “unfairly burdens the American economy” and does not align with the country’s priorities.
The move marks the second time Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the landmark 2015 agreement, which nearly 200 countries adopted in an effort to combat climate change. During his first term, he announced the U.S. exit in 2017, though the formal withdrawal process took three years. His successor, Joe Biden, rejoined the accord in 2021.
The Paris Climate Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with a strong push to cap it at 1.5°C. Under the deal, countries set their own emission reduction targets, which are reviewed every five years. Wealthier nations also committed to financing climate adaptation efforts in developing countries.
Trump’s administration contends that the agreement places a disproportionate economic burden on the U.S. while allowing other major emitters, such as China and India, to continue increasing emissions. “We will not sacrifice American jobs and energy independence for an agreement that does nothing to hold the world’s biggest polluters accountable,” a White House statement read.
With the U.S. being the second-largest annual emitter of greenhouse gases and the biggest historical contributor to climate change, its withdrawal raises concerns about the global fight against rising temperatures. The UN has warned that without further action, current commitments put the world on track for up to 2.8°C of warming by 2100—far beyond the Paris targets.
The U.S. will remain a party to the agreement for one more year under UN rules before its exit takes effect. It now joins Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only nations outside the accord.