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Consequences of Pulling Out of The Paris Agreement

What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement, also known as the Paris Accords, is an international treaty with the primary goal of combating climate change. Its main objective is to limit global warming to below 2°C, with an ambitious target of keeping it around 1.5 °C. They decided to reach this goal through nationally determined contributions (NDCs) that each country would revise and rework every five years. However, countries are not penalized for missing their targets, making the agreement less strictly enforced compared to other international treaties. The Paris Agreement provided financial aid to countries that lacked the necessary funds to carry out their NDCs. The program aimed to be extremely transparent and each country would report on its actions taken to progress climate change. Additionally, the agreement promotes technology development, helping nations adapt to climate regulations and speed up the development of clean energy technology. Due to the Accords, there has been a massive increase in renewable energy infrastructure, and billions of dollars have been contributed to help developing countries reduce their carbon footprint. However, the current trajectory shows that there is not enough action being taken to keep global warming under 1.5 degrees Celsius. There is also a noticeable imbalance between renewable and nonrenewable energy progress. While some countries have made substantial advancements in the renewable sector, others continue to struggle to meet their targets.

The US In the Paris Agreement:

The United States has made many strides in reducing global warming as it has seen a boom in the renewable sector. However, the US has a back-and-forth history with the Paris Agreement.  The United States pulled out of the Accords during President Trump’s first term. Then, it was reinstated back during the Biden Administration. The Inflation Reduction Act signed in 2022 by the Biden Administration allocated a significant budget toward clean energy and electric vehicles. The United States had set new regulations regarding fossil fuels. For example, it has limited the amount of methane leaks from fossil fuel operations. 



The nation had also pledged funds towards helping developing countries achieve their climate goals. Now, the Trump Administration has chosen to leave the Accords again on the grounds that it does not represent the values of America and that it would “unfairly burden the United States”. The administration claims that the economic burdens on the US were disproportionate compared to the other countries. It also claims that the environmental goals of the US were different compared to the Accords.


What Are the Effects on the US:

Due to the United States exiting the Accords, there could be serious ecological implications including the potential setbacks in clean energy research and the removal of environmental policies. The Trump Administration remains fixated on tapping into America’s immense fossil fuels reserve, so it is safe to assume that several policies preventing the overuse of fossil fuels will be revoked. President Trump repeatedly stated that America would “drill, baby, drill”, signaling the increased fossil fuel production. renewable energy sources would likely slow down or even halt, decreasing the incentive for further research in the clean energy sector. The US would most definitely fall behind in the global clean energy race. However, the US would gain access to its untapped reserves and become completely energy-independent and potentially an exporter of energy. The increased amount of fossil fuels drilled by the US can reduce its reliability from other countries. Due to this, the common person would see lower energy prices and electrical bills. More amiable locally sourced energy would allow for cheaper energy which would drive down the costs for the producer. The producer would then pass on the savings to the consumer by lowering the cost of energy. This may seem good however the added fossil fuel combustion would increase greenhouse gas levels. The NOx and CO2 levels would rise from an exponential increase in fossil fuel combustion. On the whole, the US is expected to see a reversal of many environmental policies and federal funding for the clean energy sector to decrease. 

What Can the US Do Instead:

Instead of relying on federal support, state and local governments can lead clean energy efforts. These governments can fund and grant incentives to local businesses and other corporations to continue advancing the clean energy sector. The private sector can also play a key role by investing in research and development and collaborating with other clean energy companies to advance research and knowledge. Working towards renewable energy on a local scale or state-wide scale can be used to advance the magnitude of sectors. By empowering states, cities, and private organizations, the U.S. can continue progressing toward a sustainable future, even without federal involvement. While the transition may be slower, regional leadership and community-driven action can keep the momentum alive and pave the way for a cleaner, more resilient nation.

In conclusion, the Paris Agreement represents a global initiative aimed at reducing the effect of global warming, and leaving the Paris Agreement would affect the United States’ progress toward a future of renewable energy. America contributes significantly more resources to the Paris Accords compared to other countries with similar carbon emissions. The United State’s rocky history with the Accords is tied to the overbearing burden placed on the nation, and the Trump Administration leaves the Accords for this reason. Due to this, the progress that America has so far made would halt to a stop, necessitating external factors like state governments and the private sector to drive the future of renewable energy forward. The future of clean may seem far away however the need for it draws ever closer. The air pollution levels will continue to rise if climate change is unchecked. We will be living in a future clouded by our very own doing, and all of this is approaching very fast until the effects of climate change are slowed down. All of this can be slowed down by slowly investing in the future of renewable energy. 



References

Gibson, K. (2025, January 21). The Trump Administration’s Retreat From Global Climate Leadership. Center for American Progress. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-trump-administrations-retreat-from-global-climate-leadership/


Goldberg, M., & McGlinchey, D. (2025, January 30). Five things to know about the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Woodwell Climate Research Center. https://www.woodwellclimate.org/us-withdrawal-paris-agreement/


Key aspects of the Paris Agreement. (n.d.). UNFCCC. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://unfccc.int/most-requested/key-aspects-of-the-paris-agreement


The Paris Agreement. (n.d.). UNFCCC. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement


Pullins, T., & Knijnenburg, S. (2025, January 21). US Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement: Impact and Next Steps. White & Case LLP. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.whitecase.com/insight-alert/us-withdrawal-paris-agreement-impact-and-next-stepsStallard


E., & Poynting, M. (2025, January 21). What is the Paris climate agreement and why has Trump withdrawn? BBC. Retrieved February 12, 2025, from https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35073297


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