The United States has announced its withdrawal from 66 international organisations, including the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), sparking criticism from climate experts and former officials. The decision, formalised through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, suspends U.S. support for numerous agencies and commissions, many of which are linked to the United Nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the move, describing the organisations as “redundant, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, and a threat to our nation’s sovereignty and prosperity.”
The withdrawal from the UNFCCC, the treaty that underpins the Paris climate agreement, has drawn particular concern. Former White House National Climate Adviser Gina McCarthy called the decision “shortsighted, embarrassing, and foolish,” warning that it undermines the U.S.’s ability to influence global investments and policies aimed at mitigating environmental disasters. Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson also cautioned that the move could weaken international climate efforts, providing other nations with an excuse to delay their commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.