Amid rising concerns over the future of international climate cooperation, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has cautioned that a US departure from the Paris Agreement could severely weaken global efforts to combat climate change.
Guterres stated at the COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, highlighting the potential impacts if the US, one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, were to withdraw from the accord again.
In his remarks, Guterres underscored that while the Paris Agreement, established in 2015, could technically withstand a US exit, it would be significantly impaired.
“The Paris Agreement can survive,” he stated, “but people sometimes can lose important organs or lose the legs and survive. But we don’t want a crippled Paris Agreement. We want a real Paris agreement.”
The secretary-general emphasized the need for the US not only to remain a participant but to implement policies that align intending to limit global warming to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.
Potential US withdrawal could disrupt global climate efforts, risking more extreme weather conditions worldwide.A potential exit by the US could also prompt other nations to reconsider their commitments, threatening a breakdown in international cooperation on climate efforts.
According to experts, such a scenario could exacerbate global temperature increases, leading to extreme weather events and widespread environmental damage.
This concern comes in light of Republican candidate Donald Trump’s past actions and current campaign promises.
Trump, who withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement in 2020 before it was rejoined under President Joe Biden, has pledged a renewed focus on fossil fuel investments and reductions in support for renewable energy if re-elected.
Michael Mann, a climate scientist, has voiced concerns, stating, “A second Trump presidency is game over for meaningful climate action this decade, and stabilizing warming below 1.5°C probably becomes impossible.”
As climate change remains a peripheral issue in the 2024 presidential race, Guterres’s message serves as a reminder of the critical role the US plays in the global climate process.