On January 27, 2025, the United States formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, following an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025. The notification was submitted by the U.S. Ambassador to the UN to the UN Secretary-General in his capacity as depositary of the agreement. Consistent with Article 28 of the Paris Agreement, the withdrawal takes legal effect one year after notification, making January 27, 2026 the date of official exit. This marks the second time the United States has withdrawn from the accord, having previously withdrawn in 2020 before rejoining in 2021 under the Biden administration.
The Paris Agreement, adopted in December 2015, was initially joined by the United States in 2016 under President Obama. President Trump first announced intention to withdraw in June 2017 and formally notified the UN in November 2019, with that withdrawal taking effect in November 2020. President Biden immediately began re-entry upon taking office in January 2021, and the U.S. officially rejoined in February 2021. Trump's second withdrawal represents the reversal of that decision and continues the pattern of alternating U.S. commitment to the international climate framework across administrations.
Verified Facts
Formal notification was submitted on January 27, 2025, by the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations to the UN Secretary-General
Executive Order 14162, signed January 20, 2025, directed the Ambassador to submit the withdrawal notice
Under Article 28 of the Paris Agreement, withdrawal takes effect one year after notification, establishing January 27, 2026 as the effective withdrawal date
This is the second U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement; the first occurred November 4, 2020
The United States rejoined the Paris Agreement in February 2021 under President Biden
The executive order claims the U.S. considers withdrawal effective immediately, but international law requires the one-year waiting period under Article 28
The original Paris Agreement was adopted December 12, 2015, and the U.S. signed April 22, 2016, accepting it September 3, 2016
No other country has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement as of April 2025
The withdrawal represents a catastrophic abandonment of climate leadership that isolates the U.S. from global climate cooperation, endangers planetary climate goals, and prioritizes fossil fuel interests over the urgent need for emissions reductions.
Trump Abandons Climate Leadership, Formally Exits Paris Agreement
President Trump completed the formal process of withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement on January 27, 2025, removing America from the world's principal framework for combating climate change. This action escalates the Trump administration's rejection of climate diplomacy and represents an abandonment of decades of international environmental cooperation. Environmental organizations, scientists, and progressive leaders have condemned the move as catastrophic, warning it undermines global climate goals at a critical moment when 2024 was the hottest year on record. The withdrawal comes amid an administration effort to dismantle climate programs, including potential withdrawal from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change itself. Climate advocates argue the decision endangers Americans and the world by removing U.S. influence from climate negotiations and eliminating U.S. contributions to international climate finance, while the U.S. Climate Alliance and state governments pledge to continue pursuing Paris-aligned climate goals independently.
Key takeaway
The formal withdrawal notification marks a definitive abandonment of climate leadership that isolates America from global climate cooperation and weakens international efforts to prevent catastrophic climate change.
Right
The withdrawal reorients U.S. policy toward energy independence and economic prosperity, freeing the nation from commitments viewed as economically disadvantageous and allowing pursuit of domestic energy development without international constraints.
Trump Administration Prioritizes Energy Independence with Paris Agreement Exit
The Trump administration formally initiated U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on January 27, 2025, implementing a core campaign promise to prioritize American energy independence and economic growth. The administration characterizes the agreement as economically disadvantageous and one-sided, claiming it unfairly constrains U.S. energy development while imposing minimal obligations on competitors like China. The executive order directs the U.S. to cease international climate commitments that the administration views as harming American competitiveness and prosperity. Conservative supporters argue the withdrawal restores U.S. sovereignty by rejecting constraints imposed by international agreements, allowing the nation to pursue domestic energy policies based on American interests rather than global mandates. The administration has also moved to dismantle various climate regulations and funding mechanisms, viewing climate policy as government overreach that stifles economic growth and energy production.
Key takeaway
The withdrawal allows the United States to prioritize energy independence and economic growth by freeing itself from international climate commitments viewed as economically disadvantageous.
Straight
Trump Administration Submits Formal Written Notice of Paris Climate Agreement Withdrawal to UN
The United States formally submitted its withdrawal notification from the Paris Climate Agreement to the United Nations on January 27, 2025, following President Trump's January 20, 2025 executive order. The notification was delivered by the U.S. Ambassador to the UN to the UN Secretary-General as depositary of the agreement. Article 28 of the Paris Agreement mandates that withdrawal becomes effective one year after the depositary receives notification, establishing January 27, 2026 as the official exit date. The Trump administration stated it considers the withdrawal effective immediately upon notification, though international law requires the one-year delay. This action fulfills a campaign commitment and represents the second U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in five years, following a previous withdrawal in 2020 and re-entry in 2021. Other countries continued submitting their climate commitments despite the U.S. announcement, and as of April 2025, no other nation has followed the U.S. in withdrawing.
Key takeaway
The United States has formally initiated a one-year withdrawal process from the Paris Agreement that will become legally effective on January 27, 2026, removing the largest economy from the primary international climate framework.
The Analysis
The January 27, 2025 withdrawal notification represents a continuation of the Trump administration's pattern of reversing multilateral climate commitments first initiated in the 2017-2020 period. The timing and substance reflect competing interpretations of international legal obligations and U.S. constitutional authority. The administration's claim that withdrawal becomes effective immediately conflicts with Article 28's explicit one-year requirement, raising unresolved legal questions about presidential authority to unilaterally withdraw from Senate-ratified treaties. The decision occurs despite the agreement allowing the U.S. to participate fully during the remaining one-year period, suggesting a political determination to exit regardless of legal status. International observers note the unprecedented nature of a major economic power leaving the framework entirely, though predictions about cascading withdrawals have not materialized as of mid-2025. The withdrawal coincides with broader disengagement from UN climate processes, including no official U.S. delegation to COP30 in Brazil and announced withdrawal from the UNFCCC framework itself. Climate researchers present competing assessments: some emphasize that U.S. withdrawal could add 0.1 degrees Celsius to projected warming, while others argue that domestic U.S. emissions may continue following market trends regardless of international commitments. The decision leaves 194 of 195 UNFCCC parties in the Paris Agreement.
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Consequence Chain
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Why It Matters
This withdrawal removes the United States, the world's largest economy and second-largest greenhouse gas emitter, from the principal multilateral framework governing global climate action during a critical period. Scientific consensus indicates 2024 was the hottest year on record and immediate aggressive action is necessary to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The decision impacts international climate finance, affects global climate negotiations, and signals retreat from decades of diplomatic engagement. It raises questions about U.S. commitment to multilateral cooperation and creates uncertainty for international climate initiatives dependent on American participation or funding.