Trump is pulling the U.S. out of Paris Agreement, calling the deal “unfair on the American economy.”

Courtesy of Win McNamee - Getty Images

Max Krainii

 

The Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has announced Monday that the country is starting the process of formal withdrawal from the Paris agreement. President Trump first mentioned his plan to pull the U.S. out of the agreement in 2017, stating the deal is an "unfair economic burden" to the U.S. economy. 

Paris Agreement set to reduce carbon emissions

Paris Agreement is an agreement within the United Nations that aims to reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The Paris Agreement opened for signature on April 22, 2016. On the same day, 175 countries, including Canada, the U.S., and the European Union committed to the deal. The agreement came into effect on November 4, 2016. The target of the agreement is to reduce fossil fuels and to limit the average temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

Trump says the agreement is not being fair on American farmers and the economy. But according to the recent New York Times study, the U.S. is the biggest carbon polluter in history. The country emitted 5.1 bouillon metric tones of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Trump reverts Obama's environmental target

Despite the amount of emission the States produce into the atmosphere each year, the President seems to be unwilling to support climate change fight and collaborate with the nations who committed to the deal in 2015. Instead, he is pulling out of the agreement. Trump's EPA said two months ago that they are planning on loosening restrictions on methane missions and no longer require oil and gas companies to detect oil leaks with installed monitors. Trump also wants to replace the Clean Power Plan that was designed under the former President Obama set flexible limits on CO2 emissions from power plants. This would have reduced CO2 emissions by 32 percent from 2005 to 2030. 

Some people are very concerned about Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement. Michael Bloomberg, former New York City Mayor said, "Abandoning the Paris Agreement is an abdication of leadership that the vast majority of Americans oppose. Americans want action on climate change, and it's up to the public to deliver what Washington won't – and we are." 

Abandoning the Paris Agreement is an abdication of leadership that the vast majority of Americans oppose. Americans want action on climate change, and it's up to the public to deliver what Washington won't – and we are. https://t.co/mKBXLlhX1W

— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) November 4, 2019

However, Secretary Pompeo points out "The U.S. is proud of [its] record as a world leader in reducing all emissions, fostering resilience, growing [the American] economy, and ensuring energy for [their] citizens. In his opinion, their model is realistic and pragmatic in contrast to the Paris deal.

Today we begin the formal process of withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. The U.S. is proud of our record as a world leader in reducing all emissions, fostering resilience, growing our economy, and ensuring energy for our citizens. Ours is a realistic and pragmatic model.

— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) November 4, 2019

The U.S. withdrawal will get complete after the November 4, 2016 — a day after the next presidential election. The next President, however, can revert Trump's decision and join the agreement again with a new plan.