Paris Climate Agreement Withdrawal: Rejecting Global Climate Commitments
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Trump announced the withdrawal in the Rose Garden, framing it as a defense of American workers against an agreement he claimed was economically harmful. The U.S. had committed under Paris to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 26–28% below 2005 levels by 2025. Trump claimed the accord would cost 2.7 million jobs — a figure taken from a Koch-funded study that most economists disputed. The U.S. was the only major nation to withdraw. The formal withdrawal process took three years under treaty terms; the U.S. officially left the day after the 2020 election. President Biden rejoined on his first day in office.
Overview
On June 1, 2017, Trump announced the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. In his Rose Garden speech, he characterized the agreement as an attack on American workers and said he was elected to represent Pittsburgh, not Paris. (The mayor of Pittsburgh responded the same day that Pittsburgh had voted 80% for Clinton and supported the Paris Agreement.)
The U.S. was the only country to withdraw. Both Nicaragua and Syria — which had originally refused to sign — subsequently joined, leaving the U.S. entirely alone among nations.
The Economic Argument
Trump cited a study projecting 2.7 million U.S. job losses as the central economic justification. The study was commissioned by an organization funded by Koch Industries, one of the largest private fossil fuel companies in the United States. Most mainstream economists found the projections substantially overstated or the methodology flawed.
The clean energy sector was the fastest-growing employment sector in the United States during this period. The Paris Agreement did not require the U.S. to close coal plants by regulation — it set a national emissions target and allowed each country to determine its own policy approach.
The Green Climate Fund
In addition to withdrawing from the Agreement itself, Trump halted U.S. payments to the Green Climate Fund — a mechanism for wealthy nations to help developing countries adapt to and mitigate climate change. The U.S. had pledged $3 billion; $1 billion had been transferred when payments stopped.
The nations with the lowest per-capita historical emissions and the least capacity to adapt are also typically the nations most severely affected by climate change.
The Three-Year Clock
Under the Paris Agreement's terms, parties could not withdraw for three years after ratification. The United States ratified in September 2016. The earliest possible withdrawal notification was November 4, 2019. The withdrawal took effect exactly one year after notification: November 4, 2020 — one day after the U.S. election.
Biden rejoined the same day he took office.
Timeline
Sequence of events
June 1, 2017
Trump announces Paris withdrawal in Rose Garden speech
Trump announces the U.S. will cease implementing its nationally determined contributions under Paris and begin the withdrawal process. He claims the agreement 'punishes the United States' while letting China and India 'do whatever they want.'
August 4, 2017
U.S. formally notifies UN of withdrawal intent
The State Department formally notifies the United Nations of U.S. intent to withdraw from the Paris Agreement — the first step in the three-year withdrawal process.
November 4, 2019
U.S. files official withdrawal notification
After the earliest possible date for filing, the U.S. formally files its withdrawal notification with the UN. Withdrawal will take effect exactly one year later.
November 4, 2020
U.S. formally exits Paris Agreement
U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement takes effect — one day after the 2020 presidential election. The U.S. is the only country to withdraw from the agreement.
January 20, 2021
Biden rejoins Paris Agreement on first day in office
President Biden signs an executive order rejoining the Paris Agreement on his first day in office. The U.S. formally rejoins 30 days later.
Sources
- ↑ Trump Will Withdraw U.S. From Paris Climate Agreement — The New York Times
- ↑ Trump announces U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord — The Washington Post
- ↑ Trump announces U.S. will leave Paris climate pact — The Associated Press
- ↑ The Paris Agreement — United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change archived ✓
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