Climate protests against Trump some time ago.WASHINGTON, BERITALINGKUNGAN.COM – The 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, has once again shaken the world with his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement. The controversial move was announced by the White House on Monday (1/20), just days after Trump’s inauguration.
“President Trump will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement,” stated the White House, as quoted by Xinhua (1/21/2025). The decision is planned to be formalized through an executive order, as part of Trump’s vision to “Make America Affordable and Energy Dominant Again.”
In his inaugural speech, Trump emphasized his focus on fossil fuel exploration. “We have the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, and we will utilize them,” Trump declared confidently. He also labeled clean energy as “expensive and wasteful.”
Global Impact and U.S. Role in the Paris Climate Agreement
The Paris Climate Agreement, adopted in December 2015, represents a global commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. As one of the highest-emitting nations globally, the U.S. plays a pivotal role in this effort.
However, the U.S.’s commitment to the agreement has seen significant shifts. During Trump’s previous presidency, the U.S. formally exited the Paris Agreement in November 2020, only to rejoin under Joe Biden’s administration in January 2021.
Now, Trump’s decision to once again withdraw the U.S. from the agreement has sparked widespread concern. This move not only impacts the U.S.’s credibility on the international stage but also threatens global efforts to address the increasingly urgent climate crisis.
Climate Crisis and Global Response
The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement is seen as a major setback for collective efforts to combat climate change. As one of the largest emitters, U.S. participation is crucial to achieving global targets.
Environmental activists and world leaders have voiced their alarm. “This is a significant step backward in the fight against the climate crisis, and the world will face new challenges after Trump’s withdrawal from the agreement,” said Greenpress Indonesia Director Igg Maha Adi in an interview with Beritalingkungan.com (1/21/2025).
“The world cannot wait. Action must be taken immediately, not delayed,” added Adi, who is also the co-founder of the Indonesian Reporters Alliance for Climate (In Race).
Adi urged other countries, including Indonesia and the European Union, to maintain their commitment to climate action. “We know, for example, that the European Union has strengthened its climate targets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, regardless of the U.S.’s decision,” he stated.
A New Chapter in the Energy Battle
Marwan Aziz, Secretary General of Greenpress Indonesia, views Trump’s pro-fossil fuel policy as evidence that the greatest challenge in combating climate change lies not in technology but in political commitment.
“This move underscores how U.S. domestic politics can influence the fate of the entire planet. The U.S. government urges us to preserve forests for global climate balance, yet Trump leads the U.S. out of a climate agreement it had already signed,” Marwan said.
He highlighted the growing concerns for the planet, noting that international climate agencies, including NASA and NOAA, have declared 2024 the hottest year on record. Global average temperatures have risen by 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels, approaching the threshold set by the Paris Agreement.
Although this threshold has not been officially surpassed—measured as an average over several years—experts warn that achieving the target is becoming increasingly difficult. “The 1.5°C limit is not a convenience but a necessity to reduce human suffering and losses from the impacts of climate change,” said Joeri Rogelj, a climate scientist at Imperial College London.
Now, the world awaits the next steps from other countries, international organizations, and the global community to confront the significant threats posed by this decision. The fight against climate change must continue, even as the road ahead becomes increasingly challenging, especially following Trump’s withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. (Mutma)
