As global climate leaders gather at the COP29 summit, concerns are rising over Argentina’s potential withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.
Under the leadership of far-right President Javier Milei, Argentina has already stirred tensions by pulling its negotiators from the climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, after just three days.
Reports suggest that Milei is considering announcing the country’s formal departure from the accord, a decision that could come after a meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Milei, a vocal climate change skeptic, has previously dismissed the climate crisis as a “socialist lie” and made pledges to withdraw Argentina from the Paris Agreement during his campaign.
While he later backtracked on this promise, sources say his government is now revisiting the matter. Milei’s political alignment with Trump, a known climate accord critic, has raised alarms globally.
Global climate action continues, despite potential setbacks from Argentina’s possible withdrawal from Paris.Trump, who pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement in 2017, is expected to push for a second withdrawal once he assumes office in January.
Opposition to Milei’s potential move is mounting within Argentina.
Experts warn that his stance is not only scientifically unfounded but could also clash with international law.
Oscar Soria from the Common Initiative thinktank argued that Milei’s climate policies, rooted in extremist rhetoric, pose a danger to the Argentine population.
Furthermore, any withdrawal from the Paris Agreement would face significant hurdles. Argentina, which ratified the accord in 2016, would require approval from its parliament to exit, making a swift departure unlikely.
Despite these challenges, the global impact of Argentina’s potential exit remains uncertain.
As Soria noted, climate action will persist regardless of Argentina’s decision, just as it did after the U.S. pulled out in 2017.
As Milei continues to grapple with both domestic and international pressures, the world watches closely to see whether Argentina will follow in the footsteps of other climate skeptics or join the global movement toward sustainable action.