President Donald Trump made another landmark move Jan. 20, one that will likely define his second term in office: he officially withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement for a second time.
Hours after his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement again, reiterating his long-held belief that the pact is a “rip-off” for American industries. At a rally in Washington, D.C., he voiced his frustration, arguing the U.S. should not make sacrifices that other nations, particularly China, are not equally required to make.
“Climate policies don’t work unless all countries participate equally,” Trump said. “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”
In Trump’s eyes, the Paris Climate Agreement is less about global cooperation and more about an economic disadvantage for the U.S. However, this perspective ignores the central truth that climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions. The Paris Climate Agreement, though nonbinding, was designed to create a framework for all countries to contribute to the fight against climate change according to their capacities.
No single country was expected to solve the crisis on its own. The agreement was about setting the groundwork for a fairer, more sustainable future — one where nations, regardless of size or wealth, would contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning toward cleaner energy.
The U.S. has long struggled with consistency in its approach to climate agreements, according to CBS News. Before Trump’s first withdrawal in 2017, former President George W. Bush withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, a treaty negotiated by former President Bill Clinton to limit greenhouse gas emissions in industrialized nations. Bush’s reasons for pulling out of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol were strikingly similar to those offered by Trump in 2017 and 2025.
Bush said The Kyoto Protocol was “fatally flawed in many ways” and would “have a negative economic impact.” Bush also argued the U.S. did “not know how much our climate could or will change in the future,” or “how fast change will occur, or even how some of our actions could impact it.”
In both cases, these decisions were rooted in a belief that the economic costs of participating in international climate agreements outweighed the potential benefits. But these arguments are increasingly difficult to defend in light of the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change and the economic opportunities offered by the clean energy transition.
By pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement for a second time, Trump is turning America’s back on the global community and signaling the U.S. will continue to fluctuate between commitment and withdrawal, leaving uncertainty in its wake.
This kind of inconsistency is not advantageous when it comes to solidifying a more sustainable future. The rest of the world is increasingly unified in its resolve to address climate change, and the U.S. risks falling behind as a leader in the critical effort to mitigate global warming.
That said, climate action is something every individual can take part in, regardless of political affiliation. From reducing waste to supporting renewable energy initiatives, every action counts. If we care about the planet, we must recognize the Paris Climate Agreement is not the only path to sustainability. Individuals, communities and businesses all have a role to play, regardless of the policies in Washington.
Though shifting policies can feel like whiplash at times, they highlight a crucial reality: Americans can no longer afford to wait for leadership to trickle down from the top. The urgency is clear, Americans must take action now, in their homes and communities, to build the future they want to see.
Whether or not the U.S. is part of the Paris Agreement, the need for cooperation and action remains clearer than ever. The fight against climate change isn’t just political — it’s human, and everyone has a role to play.
Abby Waechter is a junior studying strategic communications at Ohio University. Please note the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Have something to say? Email her at aw087421@ohio.edu.
