There are constant reports that US President-elect Trump intends to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change. Wopke Hoekstra, the European Commission’s Commissioner for Climate Action, warned that if Trump withdraws the US from the Paris Agreement again, it will “severely hit” global efforts to combat climate change. In response to the US move, other countries need to “redouble their efforts in climate diplomacy.”
“To ensure that everyone is ultimately involved, there is no choice, because climate change is indiscriminate (for everyone),” Hoekstra said of the UN climate negotiations, “This is really a problem that the whole world needs to solve together.” Hoekstra said that the EU will have “constructive engagement” with the new US government on issues such as climate change. He also mentioned that ensuring that the US “really participates as much as possible” is his goal.
Goals of The Paris Agreement
In December 2015, the Paris Agreement was formally reached at the UN Climate Change Conference held in Paris, France. This legally binding agreement is the second important climate agreement under the UN framework after the Kyoto Protocol. It aims to limit the global average temperature rise within 2 degrees Celsius this century by limiting greenhouse gas emissions, and strive to limit the temperature control target to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The agreement not only reflects the determination of all countries to jointly address climate change, but also lays the foundation for subsequent international cooperation.
However, there have been twists and turns since the signing of the agreement. The most eye-catching is that in June 2017, then-US President Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This decision immediately triggered strong reactions at home and abroad. As one of the largest carbon emitters in history, the United States’ move undoubtedly weakened the confidence and strength of the international community to fight climate change. It was not until early 2021 that the situation eased as the Biden administration came to power and took quick action to rejoin the agreement.
It is worth noting that the key to the Paris Agreement’s ability to attract nearly 200 countries and regions to participate is that it creatively adopted a “bottom-up” emission reduction commitment mechanism, that is, each party independently sets its own national voluntary contributions (NDCs) based on its own national conditions and development stage. This approach ensures flexibility and fairness, allowing countries at different stages of development to find their own paths to participate in the global emission reduction process. But at the same time, this also means that the absence of any major economy will have a significant negative impact on the overall effect.
The Decision of The United States is Related to The Global Climate Governance Pattern
In fact, whether the United States withdraws from the Paris Agreement is not only related to its own interests but also to the global climate governance pattern. Once the United States withdraws again, it will not only weaken global efforts to combat climate change, but also cause other countries to lose confidence, and thus affect the effective operation of the entire international climate governance system. Faced with such a situation, the European Union stated that it will engage constructively with the new US government on issues such as climate change, and is committed to ensuring that the United States is truly involved as much as possible.
From the current point of view, there are major differences in the United States on whether to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. On the one hand, conservatives represented by the Republican Party believe that the agreement restricts the development of the US economy; on the other hand, the Democratic Party emphasizes the importance of addressing climate change. This internal contradiction makes the United States appear to be wavering in global climate governance.
It is worth noting that, in addition to the United States, other major economies such as China and the European Union firmly support and actively participate in the Paris Agreement. These countries and regions have demonstrated their determination and actions in addressing climate change by setting emission reduction targets and promoting green and low-carbon transformation.
Summary
In short, whether the United States will withdraw from the Paris Agreement again is still full of variables. But no matter what the outcome is, we should recognize that climate change is a challenge faced by all mankind. Only by working together and cooperating can we effectively curb the social problem of global warming and protect the earth, our home.
In the face of a new round of challenges that may arise, the international community needs to unite more closely, strengthen communication and coordination, and find new cooperation models to fill potential gaps. As Wopke Hoekstra, the European Commission’s Commissioner for Climate Action, said, other countries need to redouble their efforts in climate diplomacy to ensure that everyone is ultimately involved. After all, climate change is an issue that affects all mankind indiscriminately, and only by working together can we overcome difficulties.
The Paris Agreement is not only the result of the joint efforts of the international community but also an important guide for countries to carry out low-carbon transformation and achieve sustainable development goals in the next few decades. No matter how the attitudes of individual countries change, it is always the general trend to adhere to the principle of multilateralism and deepen the construction of the global climate governance system.