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Former U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from numerous international organizations during his term, including many focused on addressing climate change.
Approximately half of the 66 impacted entities are affiliated with the United Nations, notably the Framework Convention on Climate Change – a pivotal treaty underpinning global climate action.
Groups involved in development, gender equality, and conflict resolution – areas the Trump administration frequently characterized as promoting “globalist” agendas – were also affected.
The White House stated that these decisions were based on the assessment that these entities “no longer serve American interests” and instead advance “ineffective or hostile agendas.”
The memorandum formalizing these withdrawals was signed on Wednesday, following a review. The White House described the organizations as representing “a waste of taxpayer dollars.”
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over U.S. priorities,” the statement declared.
It further asserted that many of these organizations promoted “radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic strength.”
In addition to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the U.S. also withdrew from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the leading international authority on climate science, which compiles authoritative reports on global temperature increases.
Sources within the IPCC expressed concern to the BBC about the potential impact of the U.S. withdrawal on American scientists involved in producing the organization’s upcoming studies.
The White House had previously blocked U.S. scientists from attending a meeting in China.
Restrictions on travel or participation by U.S. researchers could significantly delay the release of the next set of IPCC reports, potentially including its mitigation report, a crucial document guiding governmental climate change strategies.
Non-UN organizations affected by the U.S. withdrawal include those focused on clean energy cooperation, democratic governance, and international security, such as the International Solar Alliance, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum.
Trump had previously defunded numerous multilateral organizations and rejected the scientific consensus on anthropogenic climate change, dismissing it as a “hoax.”
While a full withdrawal from the UNFCCC requires a year, the U.S. had effectively ceased participation in the UN’s climate change body prior to the formal announcement.
The potential for legal challenges to the withdrawal in U.S. courts remains unclear, although many advocates are urging such action.
The U.S. Constitution grants presidents the authority to enter into treaties with the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate, but it does not specify procedures for withdrawal, leaving uncertainty as to whether a future president could simply rejoin by applying.
These withdrawals follow the president’s prior decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement and the decision to not send a delegation to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil.
The U.S. had also previously withdrawn from the World Health Organization, the UN Human Rights Council, and UNESCO, the UN’s cultural agency.
European leaders have criticized this decision, warning of its potential to weaken global cooperation.
EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra described the UNFCCC as “underpinning global climate action” and labeled the U.S. retreat “regrettable and unfortunate,” while the EU’s clean transition vice-president Teresa Ribera stated that the administration demonstrated little concern for the environment, health, or human suffering.
A representative from the Union of Concerned Scientists, a U.S.-based non-profit advocacy group, characterized the step as a “new low.”
Senior policy director Rachel Cleetus told news agency AFP that it was further evidence that the administration, which she described as “authoritarian” and “anti-science,” was determined to sacrifice public well-being and undermine global cooperation.
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