On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement for the second time. This happened on the first day of his second term in office. This decision was a step back in the global fight against climate change.
What is the Paris Agreement and why is it important?
The Paris Agreement , adopted in 2015, unites countries in an effort to limit global warming to safe limits of 1.5–2⁰ C above pre-industrial levels.
In 2021, the United States , having returned to the agreement after first withdrawing in 2017, committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50–52% by 2030 (compared to 2005 levels) and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
But the new exit throws those goals out the window. It threatens global efforts to combat climate change — more droughts, fires, floods and other extreme weather events — and undermines confidence in the international mechanism known as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change . The Paris Agreement , under which climate negotiations are taking place, is part of that mechanism.
Consequences for the world
The United States is the second-largest producer of greenhouse gases after China, accounting for about 13 percent of global emissions. The decision to withdraw has threatened more than just the current gains in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
It will reduce pressure on other major emitters to adopt more ambitious climate targets, says Ottmar Edenhofer , director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Research .
“As one of the largest polluters, the US is sending a signal to other countries that meeting climate commitments can be ignored ,” the authors of the Green Portal comment on the possible consequences of this decision .
Course towards traditional energy
The Trump administration has set a course to support traditional energy sources.
In his inaugural address on January 20, Donald Trump announced his intention to declare a national energy emergency:
“We are declaring a national energy emergency to accelerate the development of fossil fuel infrastructure. America will again be an oil and gas producing country. We have the greatest resources, and we will use them. “
This has been accompanied by a weakening of environmental standards and a reduction in investment in renewable energy. In particular, Trump has ordered the cancellation of support programs for electric vehicles and suspended funding for the construction of a network of charging stations.
President Trump’s transition team plans to return emissions standards to 2019 levels, which would allow internal combustion engine vehicles to produce an average of 25% more CO₂ emissions per mile driven.
What does this decision mean for Central Asia?
First of all, this means that greenhouse gas concentrations will increase faster, the Earth’s atmosphere will warm more intensely, and climate change will become even more dangerous and destructive – worldwide and in our region in particular.
For Central Asian countries, the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement could lead to a reduction in funding for climate projects in the region and a slowdown in the transition to a green economy.
For example, one of the goals of the C5+1 diplomatic platform, which unites five Central Asian countries and the United States , is to address environmental issues and develop sustainable energy sources. Weakening US climate policy could undermine these initiatives .
At the same time, this opens up the possibility for other players, such as the European Union and China , to gain greater influence in supporting environmental programs in the region.
This also means that Central Asian countries will have to strengthen regional cooperation and mobilize domestic resources. They will also need to seek new partnerships to develop green technologies and ensure sustainable economic growth.
США выходят из Парижского соглашения: что это значит для климата и Центральной Азии?
