Trump exits Paris Accord, expands U.S. drilling, and ends EV mandates. UN hopes U.S. cities and states pursue decarbonization.
Trump Declares Energy Emergency
President Donald Trump has officially withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement, marking the country’s second departure from the landmark global accord. Trump announced a “national energy emergency” to expand drilling efforts in the world’s leading oil and gas-producing nation. He also pledged to end the Green New Deal initiatives and eliminate electric vehicle mandates, claiming these actions would “save the U.S. automotive industry.”
UN Responds with Optimism
The White House statement emphasized the withdrawal as a move to bolster energy independence, but UN officials expressed hope for future collaboration. UN climate chief Simon Steill remarked that “the door remains open” for U.S. re-engagement, while Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted ongoing efforts by American cities, states, and companies toward decarbonization.
Meanwhile, Argentina, under libertarian President Javier Milei, has hinted at reassessing its own commitment to the accord, underscoring a growing challenge to global climate unity.