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President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the United States will withdraw from the international climate agreement that has been used for reducing emissions for more than three decades, making the U.S. the first nation in the world to leave the effort.
The White House said in a statement that President Trump had signed a memorandum ordering the U.S. withdrawal from 66 international organizations and treaties that “no longer serve American interests.” Officials said the climate accord was among the most significant agreements included in the directive.
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities, or that address important issues inefficiently or ineffectively such that U.S. taxpayer dollars are best allocated in other ways to support the relevant missions,” a related White House fact sheet stated.
The administration described the decision as part of a broader effort to reassert national sovereignty over energy and environmental policy. “For too long, unelected global bureaucrats have dictated how America uses its own resources,” a senior White House official said. “This president believes American workers, not international committees, should decide America’s energy future.”
The climate agreement, first adopted 34 years ago, has led global coordination on limiting greenhouse gas emissions and mobilizing funding for climate adaptation in developing nations.
Supporters of President Trump’s decision called it a long-overdue correction, arguing that the agreement unfairly constrained U.S. industry while letting major polluters like China off the hook. The administration has not disclosed the specific timeline for the withdrawal, but officials said the process could take some time and will include reviews of U.S. obligations under related accords.
“I have considered the Secretary of State’s report and, after deliberating with my Cabinet, have determined that it is contrary to the interests of the United States to remain a member of, participate in, or otherwise provide support to the organizations listed in section 2 of this memorandum,” the president wrote in the statement.
Some of the other organizations included in the statement for removal include the 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact, Colombo Plan Council and the Commission for Environmental Cooperation.