On January 7, 2026, President Trump announced the U.S. withdrawal from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), alongside 64 other international entities. This unprecedented decision follows an already submitted letter of intent to exit the Paris climate agreement for a second time. The UNFCCC, ratified by the Senate and upheld by past administrations, has been a cornerstone in global climate efforts, with all nations as parties.
Dr. Rachel Cleetus from the Union of Concerned Scientists criticized this move as detrimental to global cooperation and indicative of the administration’s anti-science stance. She emphasized the urgency of collective global action in light of escalating climate impacts and the need to maintain U.S. credibility and alliances.
Dr. Delta Merner condemned the withdrawal from the IPCC, noting it severs the U.S.’s formal participation in a vital source of climate science. This decision increases the risk of misinformation and hinders effective policymaking during a critical time for credible climate data.
The article highlighted alarming climate trends, noting that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with projections for further temperature increases that threaten global climate targets set by the Paris Agreement. Without aggressive action, the world faces significant temperature rises far exceeding established goals, potentially causing severe global harm.
