22.Apr.2022 Us Return to Paris Agreement

On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris Agreement, a landmark international treaty aimed at limiting global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This executive order marks a significant shift in U.S. climate policy after four years of the Trump administration`s withdrawal from the agreement.

The Paris Agreement, ratified by 190 countries, aims to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and ideally limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement sets targets for each country to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, with regular reviews to ensure they are on track.

The U.S. originally signed the Paris Agreement in 2016 under President Obama, but in 2017, former President Trump announced that the country would withdraw from the agreement. The decision was met with widespread criticism from both domestic and international leaders, who viewed it as a step backward in the global fight against climate change.

With the U.S. now returning to the Paris Agreement, there is renewed hope for progress on climate action. The Biden administration has promised to make fighting climate change a top priority, and rejoining the Paris Agreement is the first step in that effort.

The U.S. is the world`s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind China, and its participation in the Paris Agreement is crucial to its success. Under the agreement, the U.S. has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025. With the country back in the agreement, there is a renewed sense of urgency to meet this goal and to go even further in the years to come.

Rejoining the Paris Agreement is not just a symbolic gesture – it will have real-world impacts. The agreement provides a framework for international cooperation on climate action, including sharing technology and financial resources to help developing countries transition to cleaner energy sources. It also sends a signal to businesses and investors that the U.S. is committed to a low-carbon economy, which could drive innovation and investment in renewable energy and other climate solutions.

While rejoining the Paris Agreement is an important step, it is just the beginning of what will be a long and difficult journey to address the climate crisis. The U.S. must take bold action to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors, including transportation, industry, and agriculture. It must also help lead international efforts to transition to a low-carbon economy and address the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise and extreme weather events.

Returning to the Paris Agreement is a welcome move, but it is only the first step in what must be a sustained and committed effort to fight the climate crisis. The U.S. has an opportunity to lead the world in this effort, and it is up to us to rise to this challenge.