The news of Donald Trump returning to power next year and the United States exiting the Paris Agreement once again is a major setback for global efforts to combat climate change. The Paris Agreement, which was supposed to save the world from the worst impacts of climate change, has become increasingly ineffective and helpless in containing the rapidly worsening climate situation.
In the nine years since the Paris Agreement was finalized, global emissions have continued to rise, average temperatures have increased, and the goal of keeping global temperatures within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels seems more distant than ever. This has led to growing frustration with the treaty, with some developing countries exploring alternative approaches for a more effective fight against climate change.
The Paris Agreement was a major departure from the previous Kyoto Protocol, which had placed the bulk of the obligations of fighting climate change on rich and developed countries. However, developed countries worked hard to dismantle the Kyoto Protocol, and with the rising economic power of China, they managed to have their way in Paris. This has severely weakened the fight against climate change, with every country only putting in a bare minimum effort to meet their Paris commitments.
With the United States, one of the world’s largest emitters, exiting the Paris Agreement once again, it is likely that other countries may follow suit. This could lead to a further weakening of global climate action and make it even more difficult to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. It is clear that a more concerted and effective effort is needed to address the growing threat of climate change.