When Did the United States Leave the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015 by 195 countries, including the United States. The agreement aimed to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, on June 1, 2017, then-President Donald Trump announced that the United States would leave the Paris Agreement.
Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement was met with backlash from both environmental activists and countries around the world. The decision was seen as a significant setback for global efforts to combat climate change, as the United States is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
The process of leaving the Paris Agreement is complicated, and it takes time. Under the agreement’s terms, a country must wait three years from the date they join before submitting a formal withdrawal notice. The formal notice triggers a one-year waiting period, meaning the country will remain a member of the agreement for at least four years.
The United States officially submitted its withdrawal notice on November 4, 2019, making it the only country to ever withdraw from the Paris Agreement. On November 4, 2020, the United States officially left the agreement, exactly one year after the withdrawal notice was submitted.
The decision to leave the Paris Agreement was a controversial one, with many arguing that it will have a dire impact on the environment. However, the new administration under President Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin the Paris Agreement and take action on climate change. On his first day in office, President Biden signed an executive order to rejoin the Paris Agreement, signaling a renewed commitment to addressing the climate crisis.
In conclusion, the United States left the Paris Agreement on November 4, 2020, after a formal withdrawal notice was submitted on November 4, 2019. The decision to leave the agreement drew criticism from around the world, with many concerned about the impact on the environment. However, with the new administration’s commitment to rejoin the agreement, there is hope for renewed global efforts to combat climate change.