Trump vows to leave Paris climate agreement and 'drill, baby, drill'

President Donald Trump has made a significant announcement regarding the United States' involvement in the Paris climate agreement, which is a crucial global initiative aimed at combating climate change and reducing rising temperatures. This is not the first time Trump has expressed his intention to withdraw from this agreement; he previously attempted to do so in 2017. However, on President Joe Biden's first day in office in 2021, that decision was quickly reversed. Now, Trump has reiterated his commitment to officially withdraw the US from the Paris agreement, with the process expected to take a year. In conjunction with this announcement, the White House has declared a 'national energy emergency,' which will involve a series of changes aimed at rolling back climate regulations and increasing oil and gas production. This decision comes in the wake of alarming reports indicating that global temperatures in 2024 have surpassed the critical threshold of 1. 5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time in a single year. While the Paris agreement is not legally binding, it serves as a vital framework for international cooperation to address the causes of climate change. Trump's previous statements have shown his disdain for this collaborative approach, famously declaring in 2017 that he was elected to 'represent the people of Pittsburgh and not Paris. ' The 1. 5-degree Celsius threshold is particularly significant, as it was established in the Paris agreement as a limit beyond which the world could face catastrophic consequences. With this latest move, the US will join the ranks of countries like Iran, Yemen, and Libya as the only nations currently outside the agreement, which was signed a decade ago in France. On Monday evening, Trump signed the order to withdraw from the Paris climate accord and sent a letter to the United Nations explaining his decision. During a speech at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, he referred to the Paris agreement as a 'ripoff' and emphasized his commitment to increasing domestic oil and gas exploration. 'We will drill, baby, drill,' he proclaimed in his inaugural address, signaling a new era of energy production in the US. Trump expressed his belief that this approach would lead to lower prices, replenish the country's strategic reserves, and enable the US to export energy globally. He stated, 'We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it. ' Since 2016, the production of oil in the US has surged by 70%, positioning the country as the world's leading producer and exporter of oil. Additionally, the US has become a dominant player in the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has increased from nearly zero in 2016 to a leading global position. The new administration has also indicated plans to dismantle the 'green new deal,' which refers to the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden's flagship climate policy that allocated billions of dollars to clean energy initiatives. Trump has vowed to cancel efforts aimed at promoting electric vehicle ownership, which he refers to as the Biden 'EV mandate,' and to bolster support for the US automotive industry. Furthermore, he intends to halt the leasing of federal lands and waters for large wind farms, which he believes detract from the natural beauty of the landscape. UN climate chief Simon Stiell has cautioned that the US risks missing out on a global clean energy boom valued at $2 trillion last year. He stated, 'Embracing it will mean massive profits, millions of manufacturing jobs, and clean air. ' Ignoring this opportunity could result in significant wealth being directed to competing economies while climate-related disasters, such as droughts, wildfires, and severe storms, continue to escalate, causing damage to property and businesses, disrupting food production, and contributing to inflation across the economy. Trump's previous attempt to withdraw from the Paris agreement galvanized many Americans who were concerned about the implications of such a move. Internationally, the US withdrawal also served as a rallying point for other nations. However, this time, the potential consequences of the US exit could be even more detrimental to the global effort to curb emissions, particularly as climate change has fallen down the list of priorities for many governments. There are concerns that other countries, such as Argentina, may follow the US lead. Developing nations are also expressing frustration following the recent COP29 conference in Azerbaijan, where wealthier countries struggled to provide adequate funding support. Despite having weathered the previous Trump administration's attack on the Paris agreement, there is a sense that this may not be the final word from the US regarding its commitment to the pact. UN climate chief Simon Stiell remarked, 'The door remains open to the Paris agreement, and we welcome constructive engagement from any and all countries.