The Paris Agreement is a landmark global agreement designed to address the threat of climate change. Signed in 2015, it aims to keep the increase in global temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The United States, under the Obama administration, was a party to the Paris Agreement. However, in June 2017, President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the agreement.
The decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement was met with criticism from many leaders around the world, as well as environmental activists. The United States, as one of the largest carbon emitters in the world, plays an important role in global efforts to combat climate change.
The withdrawal from the Paris Agreement was not immediate, however. Under the terms of the agreement, a party must wait three years from the date of ratification before announcing their intention to withdraw. After that, it takes an additional year for the withdrawal to take effect.
This means that the United States technically remains a party to the Paris Agreement until November 4, 2020. However, the Trump administration has taken steps to weaken the country`s commitment to the agreement, including rolling back regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and withdrawing funding for the Green Climate Fund.
Many states, cities, and businesses in the United States have also committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement, despite the federal government`s decision to withdraw. These efforts may help to offset some of the emissions reductions that would have been achieved through federal action.
In conclusion, the United States was a party to the Paris Agreement under the Obama administration, but is set to withdraw from the agreement in November 2020. While the federal government`s commitment to addressing climate change may be wavering, many states, cities, and businesses are still working towards the goals of the Paris Agreement. The future of global efforts to combat climate change remains uncertain, but it is clear that the actions of the United States will continue to play an important role.