Donald Trump says he will pull US out of Paris climate accord

Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free

US President Donald Trump said he would withdraw the United States from the historic Paris climate accord, dealing a blow to global efforts to slow global warming after one of the hottest years on record.

Trump announced the decision in a series of pro-fossil fuel policies after he was sworn in and pledged to “drill, baby, drill” in pursuit of what he called “American energy dominance.”

“The president will unleash America's energy by ending Biden's climate extremist policies,” the White House said.

The United States' withdrawal from the 2015 Paris Agreement signed by nearly 200 countries means that the world's largest historical polluter will once again renege on its commitment to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Rachel Cleites, policy director of the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the U.S. withdrawal was “a travesty” and “clearly contrary to scientific reality.”

The incoming administration also said it would declare an “energy emergency” and touted measures to reduce regulations on oil and gas companies and curb the buildout of clean energy.

“We will lower prices, once again fill our strategic reserves to the top, and export American energy around the world,” Trump said. “We will be a rich country again – and the liquid gold at our feet will help to achieve this goal.”

Trump said he would eliminate Biden's appointment as national climate adviser and replace him with an “energy czar” tasked with cutting red tape for oil and gas producers. The position will be held by former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

Last year was the first time average temperatures exceeded the 2015 Paris Agreement target of limiting temperature increases since pre-industrial times to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and ideally 1.5 degrees Celsius.

According to a United Nations report, global temperatures are expected to rise by 2.9 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The United States was the only country to withdraw from the Paris Agreement during Trump's first administration in 2017, a process that took more than two years. But it will rejoin under Biden in February 2021. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro also threatened to quit, but failed to follow through.

Simon Steele, the head of the U.N. climate change agency that oversees the Paris Agreement, said on Monday: “The door remains open. . . . We welcome the constructive engagement of all countries.”

The White House said on Monday it would also take steps to “terminate leases” on large wind farms, which it said “destroy our natural landscape and fail to serve American energy consumers.”

Laurence Tubiana, a key architect of the Paris Agreement, said the U.S. decision to withdraw was “unfortunate” but that the agreement was “more powerful than the politics and policies of any one country.”

Some experts say Trump's move to reverse Biden's “green” policies will give China, the world's largest maker of electric vehicles, solar panels and batteries, an advantage.

Tim Sahai, co-director of the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University, said: “While U.S. manufacturers falter, China will be happy to wave its hand in the rearview mirror of one of the world’s leading electric vehicles. ”

The Biden administration has raised the bar on U.S. climate goals in its final month in office, setting a target of reducing economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 61% to 66% by 2035 from 2005 levels.

At the last U.N. climate summit in Baku, Biden's top climate adviser John Podesta acknowledged that U.S. efforts to combat global warming “may be on hold” under a Trump White House, But he sought to reassure U.S. allies that it would not halt the shift to global warming. Green energy and technology for businesses, states, cities and local authorities.

climate capital

Where climate change meets business, markets and politics. Click here to explore the FT's coverage.

Are you curious about the Financial Times' commitment to environmental sustainability? Learn more about our science-based goals here