📰 COP30 Opens in Brazil as U.S. Withdraws From Paris Climate Agreement Again

When global leaders gather in Belém, Brazil, on November 10 for COP30, they do so under a familiar shadow: the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris climate accord. It marks the second time Washington has exited the landmark treaty — a move confirmed by President Donald Trump earlier this year, once again signalling a sharp shift in U.S. climate policy.

Trump, who has long questioned climate science, has repeatedly championed fossil-fuel development and dismissed global warming as “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world.” His administration has rolled back federal support and tax incentives for clean energy introduced under former President Joe Biden, re-emphasising oil, gas and coal as pillars of U.S. energy strategy.

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🌍 Global Stakes Rise as Emissions Gap Widens

The U.S., responsible for roughly 11% of global greenhouse-gas emissions, remains the world’s second-largest emitter. Despite market-driven renewable adoption and state-level climate initiatives, federal rollbacks are expected to slow the nation’s transition to clean energy.

Research led by Princeton University warns that, although U.S. emissions will still decline due to technological and economic trends, policy reversals could add as much as 470 million tonnes of CO₂ annually within a decade compared with the trajectory under Biden-era climate programmes. That increase is more than triple the annual emissions of the Netherlands, underscoring the global impact of U.S. policy shifts.

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⚖️ Green Transition Continues — But Faces Headwinds

Energy analysts note that sweeping federal reversals will not completely halt America’s move toward renewables. Private investment, state-level mandates, and falling clean-energy costs continue pushing the country toward a lower-carbon economy. Yet the pace of transition — vital to achieving global climate goals — is at risk of slowing significantly.

For world leaders meeting at COP30, the renewed U.S. withdrawal poses tough questions about global climate cooperation, accountability and momentum at a time when scientists warn the window to limit dangerous warming is rapidly closing.