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In the name of "national sovereignty" and his categorical rejection of climate policies deemed "radical", Trump bids farewell, in a presidential memorandum, to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) signed in Rio in 1992, as well as to no fewer than 66 other international organizations.
This blow follows the withdrawal from the Paris agreements and the heavy absence of a US delegation from the most recent climate negogociations, at a time when countries are facing unprecedented and interdependent economic, environmental and climate crises.
"President Trump is clear," says Secretary of State Marco Rubio. It's no longer acceptable to give the blood, sweat and economic resources of the American people to these institutions, with little or nothing in return. Many of these organizations promote radical climate policies, global governance and ideological agendas that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic power.
Given that the UNFCCC treaty has been ratified by the Senate, it's unclear whether Trump can unilaterally denounce it, or whether a future president will be able to reinstate it without another Senate vote.
At a time when all other nations are moving forward together, this latest retreat from global leadership, climate cooperation and science can only hurt the US economy, jobs and living standards at a time when wildfires, floods, mega-storms and droughts are rapidly worsening.
The US withdrawal from the UNFCCC and other organizations is not just a symbolic act, but a clear and deliberate break with international cooperation, science and the protection of citizens. In practical terms, it will considerably slow down global action against the climate crisis: without the participation of the United States, one of the largest historical emitters of greenhouse gases, it becomes more difficult to reduce emissions in a coordinated way and achieve global warming limitation targets.
(©GreenMe.it 2026 / Managing Editor: Julie Morgan - The Press Junction / Picture: Unsplash)