Donald Trump has once again withdrawn the United States from the Paris climate agreement, a landmark international accord aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. The move, announced through an executive order, marks the second time Trump has abandoned the global effort to limit climate change.

The Paris agreement, adopted in 2015, brings together nearly 200 countries in a commitment to work together to prevent global average temperatures from rising more than 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The accord's goal is to prevent catastrophic climate change and its devastating consequences, including more frequent and intense natural disasters, sea-level rise, and disruptions to global food systems.

The US withdrawal from the Paris agreement is particularly significant given the country's historical role as the largest emitter of planet-heating carbon dioxide emissions and its position as the world's leading oil and gas producer. This influence has significant implications for global climate negotiations, and the US exit may embolden other countries to follow suit.

Climate experts and scientists have roundly criticized Trump's decision, citing the devastating consequences of inaction on climate change. Rachel Cleetus, policy director and lead economist for the Climate and Energy Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the move as "in clear defiance of scientific realities and shows an administration cruelly indifferent to the harsh climate change impacts that people in the United States and around the world are experiencing."

The timing of Trump's announcement is particularly noteworthy, coming on the heels of a record-breaking year for global temperatures. 2024 was the hottest year on record, surpassing the previous record set in 2023. The consequences of climate change are already being felt across the US, with billion-dollar weather and climate disasters growing more prevalent in recent years.

The Paris agreement aims to maintain global temperatures within a stable range, preventing warming of more than 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius. This may seem like a small difference, but the consequences of exceeding this threshold are dire. Climate change has already become severe enough to supercharge weather-related disasters across the US, including the devastating wildfires still burning around Los Angeles that have leveled entire communities this month.

This is not the first time Trump has withdrawn the US from the Paris agreement. During his previous term in office, Trump similarly abandoned the accord, only for former President Joe Biden to recommit the US upon taking office in 2021. The US will now join Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only countries not participating in the international agreement. The withdrawal process will take one year from the date the Trump administration sends notification to the United Nations.

The implications of Trump's decision will be far-reaching, with potential consequences for global climate efforts, international cooperation, and the future of the planet. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, the US withdrawal from the Paris agreement serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for collective action and cooperation.

In the face of this setback, climate advocates and scientists will continue to push for meaningful action on climate change, both domestically and internationally. The fight against climate change is far from over, and the world will be watching closely as the US and other countries navigate this critical moment in the global effort to address this existential threat.