The Paris Agreement is a binding international climate treaty tailored to the ambitions and capabilities of all nations. It was adopted at the end of COP21 and is also an additional protocol to the UNFCCC. While the main objective is to limit the average temperature increase to 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to less than 1.5°C above these levels where possible, the Paris Agreement also aims to strengthen adaptability and resilience to the effects of climate change and to implement financial flows tailored to these objectives. President Obama was able to formally bring the United States into the international agreement through executive action, as he did not impose any new legal obligations on the country. The United States already has a number of instruments in its books, in line with laws already passed by Congress, to reduce carbon pollution. The country formally acceded to the agreement in September 2016, after presenting its proposal for participation. The Paris Agreement can only enter into force if at least 55 countries representing at least 55% of global emissions have formally acceded to it. This was done on October 5, 2016 and the agreement entered into force 30 days later on November 4, 2016. The quality of each country on track to meet its obligations under the Paris Agreement can be continuously monitored online (via the Climate Action Tracker[95] and the Climate Clock). Trump – a climate denier who claimed climate change was a “hoax” committed by China – announced in June 2017 his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. But despite the president`s statement from the rose garden that “we`re going out,” it`s not that easy. The withdrawal process requires the agreement to be in place for three years before a country can formally announce its intention to leave. Then he has to wait a year before leaving the pact.
This means that the United States could officially leave on November 4, 2020 at the earliest – one day after the presidential election. .
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