The Paris Agreement was a landmark international agreement aimed at lowering global greenhouse gas emissions and preventing global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It was adopted in 2015 by 195 countries, including the United States, under the leadership of President Barack Obama. However, in 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would be withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, sparking global condemnation and concern.
So, why did the US back out of the Paris Agreement?
One of the main reasons cited by President Trump was the perceived economic burden that the agreement would place on the United States. According to Trump, the agreement would have required the US to cut its carbon emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by the year 2025, which he called “draconian.” Trump argued that this would harm American businesses, reduce economic growth, and lead to job losses in the energy sector.
Another factor that contributed to the US`s decision to withdraw was the belief that the Paris Agreement was unfair to the United States. Trump argued that other countries, particularly China and India, were not doing enough to reduce their emissions and that the US was being unfairly penalized for being a developed country with a high standard of living. He also claimed that the agreement would transfer wealth from the US to other countries, without providing any tangible benefits to American workers or consumers.
Trump`s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement was met with widespread criticism from environmental groups, political leaders, and scientists around the world. Many argued that the withdrawal would undermine global efforts to combat climate change and harm the US`s reputation as a leader in environmental protection.
Despite the US`s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, many American states, cities, and businesses have pledged to continue to uphold the goals of the agreement and to work towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This shows that there is still significant support in the US for action on climate change, even if the federal government is not leading the way.
In conclusion, the US`s decision to back out of the Paris Agreement was motivated by concerns about the economic burden and perceived unfairness of the agreement. However, this decision has been widely criticized and has raised questions about the US`s commitment to tackling climate change. Regardless of the federal government`s stance, it is clear that many Americans remain committed to protecting the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.