Assem A. A. Mohamed:Does the USA Lead the World in Climate Change Negotiations?

Introduction

If you hurt nature, you’re hurting yourself. Unfortunately, 2024 tied for the hottest year on record since 1850. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record.

The average global temperature has increased by about 1.4 degrees Celsius.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the past ten years (2015-2024), have been the warmest on record.

Furthermore, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that global emissions need to fall by approximately 45% by 2030 to mitigate climate change.

By 2050, they’ll need to reach ‘net zero,’ where emissions are offset by removing planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

All countries need to take action simultaneously, mother earth doesn’t track which country is emitting or when development began.

What we get is a collective total of emissions in the atmosphere, as Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry notes.”

Why is the Paris Agreement important?

The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degree Celsius.

It does so by agreeing to peak global greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and reach net zero emissions in the second half of this century.

The Paris Agreement is the first UN climate treaty to include specific climate goals for limiting global temperature increases.

The aim of these goals is to enhance the objective of the UNFCCC and avoid increased climate change risks.

History of U.S. participation in international agreements

U.S. rejection of Kyoto protocol process

It seems it was only yesterday. In 2001, at the Bonn conference of parties (COP-7) president Bush officially announced that the USA (world largest emitter of CO2 at that time) would not ratify the 1997 Kyoto Protocol because it doesn’t include binding emission reductions for developing countries as well.

US first withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement

16 years later in June 2017 President Trump announcing the US pull-out from Paris Agreement. The US has become the first nation in the world to formally withdraw from Paris Agreement.

Andrew Light (former senior climate change in President Obama administration) announced that this situation hurts the US reputation.

This will be the second time that the United States has been the primary force in negotiating a new climate deal, having never ratified the Kyoto Protocol (Byrd-Hagel Resolution) and having left the Paris Agreement.

On January 20, 2021, President Biden signed the instrument of acceptance, bringing the United States back into the Paris Agreement. On February 19, 2021, the United States officially rejoined the Paris Agreement.

The Climate Leaders Summit: A step towards repairing America’s reputation

On the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, President Biden invited 40 world leaders to the virtual Leaders Summit on Climate, marking a significant effort to restore the US’s global reputation on climate issues.

The summit served as a crucial milestone on the path to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-26) in Glasgow.

The Summit highlighted examples of how increased climate ambition can create well-paying jobs, drive innovative technologies, and support vulnerable countries in adapting to climate impacts.

The United States announced an ambitious 2030 emissions target as its new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

President Biden encouraged leaders to use the summit as an opportunity to outline how their countries’ contributions to stronger climate ambition.

The United States brought together 17 countries responsible for approximately 80 percent of global emissions and global GDP.

Additionally, President Biden also invited heads countries demonstrating strong climate leadership, those vulnerable to climate impacts, and those charting innovative pathways to a net-zero economy.

A selected group of business and civil society leaders also participated in the summit.

The Biden administration sees combating climate change as an opportunity to create jobs, invest in renewable energy, and modernize infrastructure.

This approach is reflected in his $2.3 trillion infrastructure plan, which includes $35 billion for clean technologies and $174 billion for the electric vehicle market.

US second withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement

The United States, under President Trump’s direction, has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement for the second time.

This withdrawal occurred on the first day of his second term, January 20, 2025. President Trump issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14162 directing the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement.

The United States is the only country that has joined and subsequently withdrawn from the PA.

Leaders Credibility problem

But the United States isn’t the only country with a credibility problem.

On the other hand, China, the world’s largest polluter, has made a “world-leading” pledge to acheive net zero by 2060, signaling to other developing countries that “net zero is our global future.

However, this commitment is undermined by China’s ongoing construction and financing of coal-fired power plants, the single largest source of greenhouse gases.

Despite its net-zero rhetoric, China added 360 new coal-fired power plants between 2015 and 2019, and this trend appears to be continuing.

Consequences of Climate Change

However, global costs and challenges posed by climate change will worsen with every additional warming.

A 1.5°C rise in temperature is expected to exacerbate global poverty, expose more people to life-threatening extreme events such as (heat waves, droughts, floods and tropical storms), reduce crop yields and cause economic losses.

Furthermore, the impacts are projected to be even more severe if temperatures reach 2°C of warming.

Global Cooperation: A Key to Combating Climate Change

Finally, while the United States is a significant player in global climate efforts, it’s crucial to recognize that no single country can tackle climate change alone.

The fight against climate change requires a united effort from both developing and developed countries, leveraging their collective strengths and resources.

Developed countries can provide financial and technology transfer, capacity building, or joint research initiatives, collaborative efforts can help bridge the gap between nations and accelerate progress toward a climate-resilient future.

By uniting our efforts, we can ensure a safer, more sustainable planet for generations to come. By working hand in hand, we can create a more sustainable and resilient future for all.