Trump exits Paris agreement again, sparking global concern
For the second time in the past five years, Donald Trump has decided to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. This decision aligns the USA with Iran, Yemen, and Libya—the only countries that have not ratified the agreement aimed at limiting global warming and combating climate change. In a conversation with WP Tech, climatologist Prof. Bogdan Chojnicki points out, however, that "the world is not made up solely of the United States."
On Monday, January 20, Donald Trump signed an order mandating that the United States once again withdraw from the Paris Agreement. He had previously made this decision in November 2019, and the USA officially withdrew from the agreement a year later, in November 2020. However, this absence was short-lived because in early 2021, Joe Biden, who won the presidential election, decided that the USA would rejoin the agreement to fight global warming.
Paris Agreement - a pact for the climate
In 2015, about 200 countries belonging to the United Nations decided to join forces to protect the climate. Climatologists had warned that the last relatively safe threshold for global warming is 1.5°C, and exceeding it could have dramatic consequences for humanity. Therefore, countries committed to limiting the increase in the average global temperature to below 2°C while striving for no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Prof. Bogdan Chojnicki emphasized in an interview with WP Tech, "The objectives of the Paris Agreement remain relevant, but the steps taken by the United States certainly do not help and bring us closer to exceeding the 2°C threshold compared to pre-industrial levels. This certainly brings a sense of pessimism, but I suggest we wait and see what actually happens."
- As experience teaches us, the world is not made up solely of the United States. Remember that in America's history, there have been plenty of failures that do not prove it is the only possible and trend-setting leader. Let's compare it to electric cars. It's not the case that if the United States backs out of electric cars, the idea will collapse because the USA does not always set the direction for global trends. There are far more connections and dependencies in the global world - added the expert.
Experts are already considering the consequences of Donald Trump's decision for the United States. In a Forbes article, David Carlin pointed out that by withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, the USA would miss the chance to shape the global climate agenda, leaving more room for countries like China. The country also risks losing a significant position in the production of key technologies and products for renewable energy, such as solar and wind energy, which are becoming an increasingly viable source of electricity.
"Climate change has triggered certain processes, such as the production of devices for generating renewable energy, and the countries that have understood this direction are succeeding today. It is worth mentioning that a large portion of photovoltaic cells or wind turbines come from the Middle Kingdom. It should be emphasized that change benefits those who understand it, but there are also those who have not noticed it and continue to function according to old, established patterns. If America does not properly interpret the current global reality, where climate change matters, it essentially places itself on the margins of overall global development," emphasized Prof. Chojnicki.
The Earth at a crossroads
Climatologists warn that our future depends on the actions taken in the coming years, and indifference to climate change could cost us dearly. In the report "Climate Endgame: Exploring Catastrophic Climate Change Scenarios," published in 2022, researchers reminded us that climate change has already played a significant role in cases of mass extinction, helped bring down great empires, and shaped history.
The future effects are difficult to predict, but many scenarios suggest a domino effect that will extend beyond extreme weather events. Luke Kemp from the University of Cambridge, one of the report's authors, noted that the changing climate could also lead to financial crises, conflicts, and new disease epidemics. These could cause further problems and hinder the return to stability after potential disasters, such as armed conflicts.
