US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will have little impact outside of the country, according to experts.
Trump's move is part of his broader assault on climate action, which has been met with resistance from other nations. The US withdrawal from the Paris agreement, a parent treaty to the UNFCCC, was one of Trump's first acts in office. However, this decision will not change the scientific reality of rising temperatures, sea levels, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The economic benefits of low-carbon energy are already clear, with global investment in clean energy outstripping fossil fuels by two to one. Renewable energy has grown 15% last year, accounting for more than 90% of new power generation capacity. Electric vehicles now account for about a fifth of new cars sold around the world.
China is likely to continue its low-carbon economy, with Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, stating that commercial dynamism between China and the global south will provide a counter to Trump's policies. Nicholas Stern, an economist, agrees that the economics of the transition are increasingly attractive.
However, Trump's actions may unsettle some investors on the margins. The US withdrawal from the IPCC will mean losing a seat at climate talks, and withdrawing from the UNFCCC means ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law.
The impact of Trump's decision will be felt globally, with the effects of climate change already being felt across the world. Wildfires, droughts, floods, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and homes in some areas are becoming uninsurable.
Even for Trump himself, the effects of climate change will not be far away. Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, a former vice-chair of the IPCC, has warned that Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence is located in one of the most vulnerable areas to sea level rise due to global warming.
Ultimately, Trump's decision to withdraw from the UNFCCC and IPCC will have little impact outside of the US. The world is already committed to addressing the climate crisis, and other nations will continue to push for climate justice and a low-carbon future.
Trump's move is part of his broader assault on climate action, which has been met with resistance from other nations. The US withdrawal from the Paris agreement, a parent treaty to the UNFCCC, was one of Trump's first acts in office. However, this decision will not change the scientific reality of rising temperatures, sea levels, and greenhouse gas emissions.
The economic benefits of low-carbon energy are already clear, with global investment in clean energy outstripping fossil fuels by two to one. Renewable energy has grown 15% last year, accounting for more than 90% of new power generation capacity. Electric vehicles now account for about a fifth of new cars sold around the world.
China is likely to continue its low-carbon economy, with Li Shuo, director of the China Climate Hub at the Asia Society Policy Institute, stating that commercial dynamism between China and the global south will provide a counter to Trump's policies. Nicholas Stern, an economist, agrees that the economics of the transition are increasingly attractive.
However, Trump's actions may unsettle some investors on the margins. The US withdrawal from the IPCC will mean losing a seat at climate talks, and withdrawing from the UNFCCC means ceasing participation in or funding to those entities to the extent permitted by law.
The impact of Trump's decision will be felt globally, with the effects of climate change already being felt across the world. Wildfires, droughts, floods, and extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and homes in some areas are becoming uninsurable.
Even for Trump himself, the effects of climate change will not be far away. Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, a former vice-chair of the IPCC, has warned that Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence is located in one of the most vulnerable areas to sea level rise due to global warming.
Ultimately, Trump's decision to withdraw from the UNFCCC and IPCC will have little impact outside of the US. The world is already committed to addressing the climate crisis, and other nations will continue to push for climate justice and a low-carbon future.
like, what's next? withdrawing from reality tv? 
seriously though, it's not like the rest of the world is going to stop taking action on climate just because one guy in the usa decides to opt out. china and other countries are already making huge strides towards a low-carbon economy, and they're gonna keep pushing forward regardless of what trump does.
, but i guess that's just the ultimate example of him being out of touch with reality. in all seriousness though, this decision is a huge missed opportunity for the usa to take the lead on climate action, and instead trump is just going to cede ground to other countries.
the usa just pulled outta a bunch of international climate agreements 
but honestly whats the diff? its not like they were doin nothin anyway 
in fact, global clean energy investment is way up 2:1 vs fossil fuels 
and electric cars are gettin popular too 
and other countries will just keep pushin for climate justice 
so trump's tantrum wont stop the progress 
global temps are risin no matter what and sea levels are already a thing 
. anyone else notice how crazy it is that us investments in renewable energy are way more than fossil fuels? 
i mean china's all about low-carb too, and even trumps own home might get flooded 
.
. The world isn't gonna stop climate change just because Trump decides to opt out of some treaties. We need global cooperation, not a "me first" approach.
. But what about the rest of us? Are we gonna have to suffer through more wildfires, droughts, and floods just because one guy decided to be a climate denier 
? It's not okay, folks. We need to take action now and support those who are already working towards a low-carbon future 
. It's like the world is finally waking up to the reality of climate change 
. But what's really concerning is how this is going to affect regular people, especially those in vulnerable areas 
. I mean, Trump's own house is literally at risk due to sea level rise? That's just wild 
. They're the ones we should be listening to, not some billionaire reality TV star with an ego as big as his ego's been proven to be 
. Like, what's gonna change? The earth isn't exactly gonna suddenly start cooling down just 'cause one country pulls out of a treaty 
.
. It's all about the benjamins, fam 
. And if you don't like it, you can just move to one of those islands that are already getting swallowed up by sea level rise 
(just kidding, we've gotta take care of our own planet first).
. But, I guess some countries like China are gonna keep going with their low-carbon plans 
. The thing is, even if the US doesn't join in, there are still so many other countries doing their part to reduce carbon emissions. Plus, electric vehicles are becoming super popular – that's a good sign! 
But, I hope investors aren't gonna get scared off because of this... we need more money to make renewable energy happen ASAP 
. And, oh man, Trump might be getting a preview of what's to come with the sea levels and all 
!