Trump pulls US out of global climate agreement

January 08, 2026

Donald Trump has triggered widespread backlash after declaring that the United States will withdraw from the world’s primary international climate agreement, a move that places the country in near-total isolation from the global response to accelerating climate change.

In a presidential memorandum released Wednesday, Trump ordered the US withdrawal from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), along with the termination of participation in 65 international bodies, agencies, and commissions. The administration labeled these organizations as being “inconsistent with the interests of the United States.”

The UNFCCC serves as the foundation of global cooperation on climate action and has been adopted by every nation on Earth since it was established 34 years ago. The US Senate formally ratified the treaty in October 1992, making the United States a central architect of international climate diplomacy for decades.

Despite this history, Trump has repeatedly dismissed climate science, branding it a “hoax,” while rolling back environmental regulations and undermining clean energy initiatives. His policies have favored continued reliance on fossil fuels—industries widely recognized as the primary drivers of worsening heatwaves, severe storms, prolonged droughts, and climate-related conflicts that threaten billions worldwide.

“This decision is reckless, humiliating, and profoundly short-sighted,” said Gina McCarthy, former White House climate adviser under President Joe Biden.

“By becoming the only nation outside the UNFCCC, this administration is abandoning decades of American leadership,” McCarthy said. “It is also surrendering our influence over trillions of dollars in global investment decisions that could have strengthened the US economy and reduced the mounting costs of climate disasters.”

Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, described the withdrawal as a “self-inflicted wound” that weakens America’s ability to compete globally—particularly against China, which continues to dominate the rapidly expanding clean energy and renewable technology markets.

“As the US retreats from leadership, the rest of the world is accelerating the transition to cleaner energy,” Bapna said. “This administration is effectively handing over trillions in economic opportunity to countries willing to follow climate science and invest in the cheapest, most sustainable energy solutions.”

The memorandum also signals an aggressive pullback from climate science itself. The White House announced plans to sever ties with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations’ leading climate research body, along with other international environmental organizations such as the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Solar Alliance, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Last year, Trump confirmed that the US would also withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, which commits nations to limiting dangerous global warming. The administration further declined to participate in UN climate negotiations held in Brazil.

Because the UNFCCC was ratified by the Senate, legal experts question whether a president can withdraw unilaterally. Others warn the move could have long-term consequences. “Allowing this unprecedented action to stand could permanently exclude the US from climate diplomacy,” said Jean Su, energy justice director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the withdrawals, arguing that many of the agreements are “dominated by progressive ideology” and disconnected from US national interests.

Scientists, however, overwhelmingly agree that climate change poses an escalating threat to economies, public health, and national security. In the United States, record-breaking extreme weather events have already forced insurance companies to abandon high-risk states, destabilizing housing markets and local economies. Researchers warn that global temperatures are approaching critical thresholds that will intensify future disasters.

“On the anniversary of devastating wildfires that killed dozens and destroyed thousands of homes in Los Angeles, this administration is signaling it has no intention of protecting Americans from climate-driven threats,” said Loren Blackford, executive director of the Sierra Club. “This is not leadership—it’s abandonment.”

Former vice president and climate advocate Al Gore said the administration has dismantled climate protections since its first day in office.

“The Trump administration has exited the Paris Agreement, undermined scientific institutions, restricted access to emissions data, and halted critical clean energy investments,” Gore said. “These decisions benefit oil executives and billionaires while placing lives and ecosystems at risk across the globe.”

Additional organizations the US plans to leave include the Carbon Free Energy Compact, United Nations University, International Tropical Timber Organization, International Cotton Advisory Committee, Pan-American Institute of Geography and History, and several international trade, cultural, and research groups.

The State Department confirmed that further withdrawals are under review.