Federal policy on the Paris Climate Agreement, 2017
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On June 1, 2017, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Under the agreement, signatory countries pledge to reduce carbon dioxide and similar emissions in an effort to limit human-caused climate change. Trump argued that the agreement was unfair to the United States, would reduce jobs, and would have little effect on global temperatures if fully implemented. Trump announced that he would either renegotiate the agreement's terms or negotiate a new agreement favorable to the United States. In addition, Trump said the United States would cease payments to the Green Climate Fund, a United Nations-managed plan to finance climate change mitigation efforts and emissions reduction programs for developing countries.[1][2][3][4][5]
Under the agreement, which was agreed to by the Obama administration in April 2016, signatory countries agreed to a long-term goal of keeping an increase in average global temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by the year 2100. Each signatory nation has a non-legally binding emissions target for carbon dioxide and similar emissions under the agreement. Developed countries such as the United Kingdom are required to finance the United Nations' Green Climate Fund, which had a goal of providing $100 billion each year to developing countries for climate change purposes by the year 2020.[6][7]
This page tracked major events and policy positions of the Trump administration on the Paris Climate Agreement. This page was last updated in 2017. Think something is missing? Please email us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
This article includes an overview of the agreement, the potential options available to the president for exiting the agreement, and statements from government officials on the agreement.
Overview of the agreement
In April 2016, the United States under President Barack Obama signed a 31-page international agreement, commonly known as the Paris Climate Agreement, at the United Nations. Signatory countries agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and similar emissions. Carbon dioxide and similar gases trap heat that helps warm the planet for human habitation and that some scientists have hypothesized contribute to human-caused global warming at increased concentrations in the atmosphere. Signatory countries agreed to a long-term goal of keeping an increase in average global temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by the year 2100. Signatory countries also agreed to pursue policies aimed at keeping any temperature increase at or below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by the year 2100. Under the agreement, each nation has an emissions target, which is not legally binding. Developed countries like the United States are required to finance climate change mitigation efforts and emissions reduction programs for developing countries through the United Nations' Green Climate Fund, which had a goal of providing $100 billion each year to developing countries for climate change purposes by 2020.[6][7]
Proponents of the agreement argue that an international climate agreement between developed and developing countries is necessary to achieve reductions in potential temperature rises and reductions in carbon dioxide and similar emissions in order to prevent potentially harmful impacts from global warming. Further, proponents argue that the agreement will help spur further emissions reductions by prompting more private and government funding for renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, which emit less carbon dioxide.[8][9]
Opponents of the agreement argue that pledges from signatory countries like the United States, China, India, Pakistan, and others will reduce global temperatures by 0.2 degrees Celsius by the year 2100, which would not have a meaningful impact on global temperatures according to critics. Further, opponents argue that policies such as the Clean Power Plan, which mandates reductions of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants, would not come close in meeting the United States' pledge and would have no effect on global temperatures. Some opponents argue that policies like the Clean Power Plan will increase energy prices for U.S. households.[10][11]
Options for the president
Below are the options available to the president regarding U.S. involvement with the Paris Climate Agreement and with the United Nations' activities related to global warming.[12]
• Withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
The United States can withdraw from the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The United States joined and the U.S. Senate approved the convention under President George H.W. Bush (R). Leaving the convention would void U.S. involvement in the Paris Climate Agreement.[12][13][14][15]
• Formally withdraw from the Paris Agreement
The United States can go through a formal withdrawal process from the Paris Agreement.[12][14][15]
Alternatively, the president can issue an executive order deleting the U.S. signature on the Paris Agreement.[12][14][15]
• Submit the Paris Agreement for Senate approval
Under the U.S. Constitution, the president may form and negotiate treaties, and the U.S. Senate must be advised and must consent to the treaty by a two-thirds vote. Only after the Senate approves a treaty can the president ratify it. A treaty is only binding on all the states after it is ratified.[16]
The president can introduce the Paris Climate Agreement to the Senate for approval as a treaty. The Senate must then approve the agreement by a two-thirds vote before it can be ratified. With Republicans in control of the chamber as of June 2017, the Senate would likely to vote down the agreement.[12][17]
• Ignore the Paris Agreement
The president can ignore U.S. obligations to reduce emissions under the Paris Agreement. The agreement does not contain enforceable provisions to ensure compliance from signatory countries and does not impose punitive penalties on signatories for not setting and achieving policies to reduce emissions. Instead, the agreement's enforcement depends on public and international pressure on countries to meet their pledged goals.[18][12]
Such an action could prompt responses or outside pressure from other signatory countries. For example, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy argued on November 13, 2016, that European nations should implement a carbon tax on U.S. goods if the United States exits the Paris Agreement.[19]
Green Climate Fund
As part of the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Green Climate Fund aims to provide $100 billion each year to fund climate change mitigation efforts and emissions reduction programs for developing countries until the year 2020. Industrialized nations that have signed the agreement would primarily be responsible for the funding. In November 2014, President Barack Obama (D) pledged $3 billion in U.S. funding for the program.[6][20]
Congress can withhold funding from the Green Climate Fund during the appropriations process. Additionally, the presidential administration can withhold discretionary funds from the U.S. State Department from going to the Green Climate Fund.[12][13]
Government officials and influencers on the Paris Climate Agreement
Scott Pruitt
- On April 14, 2017, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said on FOX and Friends, "Paris is something that we need to really look at closely. It’s something we need to exit in my opinion. It’s a bad deal for America. It was an America second, third, or fourth kind of approach. China and India had no obligations under the agreement until 2030. We front-loaded all of our costs."[21]
- On March 26, 2017, Pruitt said on ABC's This Week, "You know, what was wrong with Paris was not just that it was, you know, failed to be treated as a treaty, but China and India, the largest producers of CO2 internationally, got away scot-free. ... They didn’t have to take steps until 2030. So we’ve penalized ourselves through lost jobs while China and India didn’t take steps to address the issue internationally. So Paris was just a bad deal, in my estimation."[22]
Rick Perry
- On April 24, 2017, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said he would not recommend that United States exit the Paris agreement but instead renegotiate its terms. Perry said, "I'm not going to tell the President of the United States let's just walk away from the Paris accord. But what I'm going to say is I think we probably need to renegotiate it, and they need to get serious about."[23]
Rex Tillerson
- When asked during his confirmation hearing on January 11, 2017, to be secretary of state whether the United States should play a key role in the Paris Climate Agreement, Rex Tillerson said, "It’s important that the U.S. maintains its seat at the table about how to address the threat of climate change, which does require a global response. No one country is going to solve this on its own." When asked again whether the United States should be a key leader in the Paris agreement, Tillerson said, "I'm sure that there will be opportunity…to do a fulsome review of our policies around engagement on climate issues through global accords, global agreements. I also know the president as part of his priority in campaigning was America first. So there’s important considerations…as we commit to those accords, are there any elements of that that put America to a disadvantage?"
- In a November 7, 2016, speech as CEO of ExxonMobil, Tillerson said, "At ExxonMobil, we share the view that the risks of climate change are serious and warrant thoughtful action. Addressing these risks requires broad-based, practical solutions around the world. Importantly, as a result of the Paris agreement, both developed and developing countries are now working together to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, while recognizing differing national responsibilities, capacities and circumstances. The best hope for the future is to enable and encourage long-term investments in both proven and new technologies, while supporting effective policies."[24]
Recent news
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Footnotes
- ↑ The Hill, "Trump to pull US out of Paris climate deal: reports," May 31, 2017
- ↑ Axios, "Scoop: Trump is pulling U.S. out of Paris climate deal," May 31, 2017
- ↑ Huffington Post, "Donald Trump Reportedly Plans To Withdraw From Paris Climate Deal," May 31, 2017
- ↑ Reuters, "Trump pulling U.S. out of Paris climate deal: source," May 31, 2017
- ↑ Washington Post, "Trump to announce U.S. will exit Paris climate deal," June 1, 2017
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Associated Press, "Paris climate agreement: All you need to know," December 13, 2015
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, "Adoption of the Paris Agreement," December 12, 2015
- ↑ The Atlantic, "Is Hope Possible After the Paris Agreement?" December 12, 2015
- ↑ U.S. News and World Report, "Is the Paris Climate Agreement a Good Strategy?" December 18, 2015
- ↑ Massachusetts Institute of Technology, "Energy and Climate Outlook - Perspectives from 2015," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ National Review, "Another Obama Legacy: Americans Will Pay Billions for a Useless Climate Agreement," April 22, 2016
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedvnf - ↑ 13.0 13.1 Congressional Research Service, "Climate Change: Frequently Asked Questions about the 2015 Paris Agreement," September 1, 2016
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Reuters, "Here's How Soon Donald Trump Could Pull Out of a Historic Climate Change Deal," November 10, 2016
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Reuters, "Trump Is Reportedly Looking for the Quickest Way Out of the Climate Deal," November 14, 2016
- ↑ National Archives, "The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription," accessed November 23, 2016
- ↑ Niskanen Center, "Does Trump spell climate doom?" November 14, 2016
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedharvard - ↑ Bloomberg, "France, EU Must Respond in Kind to Trump Moves, Sarkozy Says," November 13, 2016
- ↑ The Hill, "Republicans vow to deny Obama climate funds to derail Paris talks," November 20, 2015
- ↑ Washington Post, "Scott Pruitt calls for an ‘exit’ from the Paris accord, sharpening the Trump White House’s climate rift," April 14, 2017
- ↑ The Hill, "New EPA chief calls Paris climate accord a 'bad deal'," March 26, 2017
- ↑ CNN, "Rick Perry says US should 'renegotiate' Paris climate accord," April 26, 2017
- ↑ ExxonMobil, "The Value of Partnerships in Delivering Energy for the Future," November 7, 2016
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