Karmactive Staff
President Trump has signed an order to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement. This change will affect how America handles climate issues, from local weather patterns to energy costs.
The Paris agreement, signed in 2015, is a promise by countries to work together to stop Earth from getting too hot. They aim to keep temperature rise under 1.5°C (2.7°F) compared to the time before we had factories and cars. Right now, we’ve already seen a rise of 1.3°C (2.3°F), and 2024 was the hottest year ever recorded.
America plays a big role in climate change. Think of carbon dioxide like a warm blanket around Earth – too much of it traps heat and changes our weather. The U.S. released 4.9 billion tons of this gas in 2023. While this is 11% less than ten years ago, the U.S. has historically put more of this heat-trapping gas into the air than any other country – 22% of all emissions since 1950.
The effects are visible in our backyards. Los Angeles faces dangerous wildfires. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent. These aren’t just weather events – they affect food prices, home insurance costs, and daily life across the country.
Trump says the agreement hurts American workers and sends money to countries that don’t need it. But others see different costs. Gina McCarthy, who advised President Biden on climate, points out that clean energy is already helping people save on power bills.
Similar Posts
The public isn’t sure about this move. About half of Americans don’t want to leave the agreement. Even among Republicans, slightly less than half support withdrawal. Only about 20% of Americans strongly favor leaving.
The global clean energy market was worth $2 trillion last year. Laurence Tubiana, who helped write the Paris agreement, says America might miss out on these business opportunities. Countries are racing to develop better solar panels, wind turbines, and electric cars. These technologies create jobs and can lower energy costs.
When Trump first left the agreement in 2017, no other country followed. This time might be different. Some nations might reconsider their positions. Recent meetings in Azerbaijan showed growing tension about climate funding between rich and developing nations.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell warns that stepping away from clean energy now could mean watching other countries take the lead while Americans face more droughts, storms, and rising food prices. The withdrawal process takes one year, during which these discussions will continue.
Bill McKibben, a climate writer, puts it simply: America won’t lead in solving what he calls “the greatest dilemma humans have ever encountered.” But he hopes Washington won’t stop others from trying to fix it.
This isn’t just about international agreements – it’s about changes we can see and feel. From stronger storms to longer fire seasons, from changing food prices to new jobs in clean energy, these decisions shape our daily lives and future opportunities.
