By Kofi Adu Domfeh
As Donald Trump was sworn into office for a second term as the President of the United States, he has, for the second time, announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
“I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off,” Trump said as he signed the executive order ahead of his inauguration. “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity”.
Trump’s presidential orders include declaring an “Energy Emergency”, which could give the administration increased powers to approve production of both fossil fuels and, interestingly, critical green minerals, essential to the energy transition.
Though the withdrawal is immediate, it officially takes a year to kick in; and the order indicates the administration’s intent to limit participating, including cutting funding for climate mitigation and adaptation, and increasing production of fossil-fuels.
The US exit from the Paris Agreement means that America is withdrawing from a global pact aimed at mitigating climate change. The agreement, signed in 2015, brings almost 200 countries together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels.
The US is the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter behind only China. The exit means that America will no longer be bound by the agreement’s requirements, such as submitting plans to reduce carbon emissions.
However, it’s worth noting that the agreement has no enforcement mechanisms, so countries can’t be punished for not meeting their targets.
Months after taking office for the first time in 2017, President Trump signed an order to withdraw from the pact, a move President Joe Biden promptly reversed on his first day in office in 2021.
While wildfires in Los Angeles serve as a reminder of the immediate impacts of the climate crisis, the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement highlights the continued challenges in global climate action.
As scientists call for drastic reductions in carbon emissions, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has already noted that the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement would undermine global efforts to halt climate change.
“The Paris agreement can survive, 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,” Guterres told the Guardian. “It’s very important that the United States remain in the Paris Agreement, and more than remain in the Paris agreement, that the United States adopts the kind of policies that are necessary to make the 1.5 degrees still a realistic objective.”
Implications for Africa
Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with many countries already experiencing severe droughts, floods, and heatwaves. The US exit may lead to reduced international support for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in Africa.
This could exacerbate the already devastating impacts of climate change on the continent, including food and water scarcity, displacement, and economic instability.
“The cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of action,” observed Dr. Joyce Kimutai, Climate Scientist at Imperial College London and Kenya Meteorological Department. “Vulnerable communities, who have contributed the least to this crisis, are bearing the heaviest burdens. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are eroding developmental gains and plunging countries further into debt. The longer we wait, the harder recovery will become, and the planet will face massive losses and damages.”
The US exit may also lead to a decrease in climate finance for Africa. The Paris Agreement aims to mobilize climate finance for developing countries, including those in Africa. Without US participation, it may be challenging to meet this goal, leaving African countries with limited resources to address climate change.
According to Faten Aggad, Executive Director of the African Future Policies Hub, “the world cannot afford to see the largest greenhouse gas emitter per capita and the second largest emitter globally disengage from an agreement that is already under significant strain.
“Truth be told: we need the US to act seriously. After all, it is responsible for 13.5% of global emissions – more than 4-fold Africa’s contribution as a full continent. This is the moment for a stronger leadership from industrialized economies, whose higher ambition is the only way forward to compensate for the USA’s failures.”
The US exit may also impact African economies that are transitioning to renewable energy. The Paris Agreement aims to promote the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies. Without US participation, African countries may face reduced access to technology, expertise, and funding for renewable energy projects.
All Hope Not Lost
Even without the US on board, some experts believe that the rest of the world will continue to move forward with climate action.
“This decision is a major setback at a time when the urgency of climate change calls for more concerted action, solidarity and greater ambition. Faced with this situation, we reaffirm our commitment to working for fair climate finance and inclusive solutions for the energy transition,” said Mouhamadou Sissoko, Secretary General Teranga Lab, Senegal.
According to Just Climate Policy Expert, Julius Mbatia, “the world has lived through this once, and greater multilateral cooperation holds a promise to handle it yet again.”
He added that “it’s inconceivable that the US pulls out of the Paris Agreement and quench its strategic role in shaping the green and safe future that is in the making. This is not the leadership required at a moment when the majority of the people and States are mobilizing for climate action and issue unmatched commitment to tackling the climate crisis.”
The US exit from the Paris Agreement indeed poses significant setback for global climate action, and raises challenges for Africa, from reduced climate finance to decreased support for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.
However, many countries, cities, and businesses remain committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the worst impacts of climate change.
“Trump attempting to sabotage global efforts to tackle the climate crisis, is a huge threat to our future. Africa, being one of the continents facing the impacts of the climate crisis, will not stop in the face of those who choose to risk everything for the profit of a privileged few,” said Fred Njehu, Pan-African Political Strategist for Greenpeace Africa.
