USA Officially Exits Paris Climate Agreement

Washington – The United States on Wednesday officially exited the Paris Climate Agreement, becoming the first nation leaving the historic pact reached to combat climate change.

The US’ withdrawal was formally set in motion by President Donald Trump with a letter exactly one year ago, although he had announced the decision in June 2017.

Trump had argued that the accord provided disadvantages for the US for the benefit of other countries, and it had a negative impact on American workers, jobs, wages, and the overall economy.

Around 195 countries drafted the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 with the aim of limiting the global warming increase at 1.5 degrees Celsius  and keep the rise in global temperature below 2 C compared to pre-industrial levels.

Although Washington has stopped the implementation of the non-binding accord and its financial and economic requirements on June 1, 2017, the United Nations regulations required withdrawal decisions to become official four years after the deal came into effect on Nov. 4, 2016.