Is the United States Back in the Paris Agreement
After a tumultuous four years under the Trump administration, the United States has officially rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change. The historic agreement, which was first signed in 2015, aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a goal of limiting the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris Agreement, fulfilling one of his campaign promises to prioritize climate action. The decision to rejoin the agreement was met with widespread praise from world leaders and environmental activists alike.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty, which means that signatories are required to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under the agreement, each country sets its own targets for reducing emissions and regularly reports on its progress.
The United States initially signed the Paris Agreement in 2015 under the Obama administration, but President Trump announced in 2017 that the country would be withdrawing from the agreement. Trump cited concerns over the economic impact of the agreement on American businesses and jobs, as well as a belief that the agreement unfairly placed the burden of reducing emissions on developed nations.
However, the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement was met with harsh criticism both domestically and internationally. Many argued that the move represented a major setback in global efforts to combat climate change.
With the United States officially back in the Paris Agreement, there is renewed hope for international efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change. The Biden administration has announced plans to aggressively tackle the issue, including setting a goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
While there is still much work to be done, the return of the United States to the Paris Agreement is a significant step forward in the fight against climate change. With the world`s largest economy and second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases now back at the table, there is a renewed sense of optimism that meaningful progress can be made towards a more sustainable future.