How world has responded to Trump’s Paris climate agreement withdrawal
How world has responded to Trump’s Paris climate agreement withdrawal
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From Europe to Canada, Africa, China and Brazil, most countries appear to have doubled down on their commitment to tackle crisis. World leaders, senior ministers and key figures in climate diplomacy have one by one reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris agreement this week, in response to the order by Donald Trump to withdraw the US from the pact.
![[Fiona Harvey]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/12/08/Fiona_Harvey_old_image.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
The prospect of the world keeping temperatures to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, as the treaty calls for, was damaged by the incoming US president’s move. Hopes of meeting the target were already fast receding, and last year was the first to consistently breach the 1.5C limit, but the goal will be measured over years or even decades and stringent cuts to emissions now could still make a difference.
![[Von der Leyen speaks at lectern with World Economic Forum logos behind]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a8d095ca32f1b4e7e86a65530ff7c70033bf71f4/0_167_5000_3000/master/5000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Along with withdrawing from the Paris agreement, Trump also abolished many of the limits and incentives to reduce fossil fuel use, and signalled his intention to continue to back big oil. The US is already the world’s leading exporter of gas, and oil production rose to record levels under Biden. These factors could counter the progress that renewables have made across the country in recent years, in part owing to Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Adair Turner, chair of the Energy Transitions Commission thinktank, said that Trump’s actions could add about 0.3C to global heating and spur other countries to dial back on their carbon-cutting efforts.
![[Ayebare, Miliband and Kyte have a discussion between themselves with others seated around]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3a16f522540551f9b6782d28faaf640bbb2e64a8/0_0_5500_3300/master/5500.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
However other countries have made progress without, or even in spite of, the US before. After all, Trump also began the process of withdrawal during his last presidency, although it only took effect as he was leaving office. Before that, international agreement on climate action was held up for years under George W Bush’s presidency.
![[Midshot of Guilbeault attending the Canada-Caricom Summit in Ottawa]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/91f1b9e5570921f67038cb96d9d25e59ba70fbd6/0_56_4264_2559/master/4264.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
