June 1, 2017, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. Originally adopted in 2015, this global agreement is aimed at limiting the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
On January 20,2020, President Joe Biden, on his first day in office, rejoined the Paris Agreement (which took effect on February 19, 2021).
On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive order, to once again withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Mr. Trump also signed a letter to the United Nations, which administers the pact, notifying the world body of the withdrawal. The withdrawal will become official one year after the submission of the letter.
There are now 24 states, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, taking part in the U.S. Climate Alliance, committing them to taking real, on the ground action that urgently addresses the climate challenge. These states represent 54% of the U.S. population and 57% of the U.S. economy. In becoming an Alliance member, states commit to:
More political information is explored on pages within these sections: LOCAL POLITICS, NATIONAL POLITICS, INTERNATIONAL, as well as in LAWS AND LITIGATION. There is also in depth information, state by state, in STATES (under the LEARN MORE dropdown menu), including individual state plans to accelerate renewables, key resources, and news.
A stunning timeline, following our nation’s extraordinary lack of progress since 1988, was written by Paul Bledsoe and published in the New York Times on December 29, 2018. This has, unfortunately, not been updated.
Please see the Biden’s Climate Plan page which details the extraordinary commitment his administration took in regard to battling climate change.
Trump’s plans are more concerning. Please see the PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT…Trump’s Climate Executive Actions, which details most of the actions he signed on Day One.