# Joining the Paris Climate Agreement

> Negotiated and formally joined the 2015 Paris Agreement, committing the U.S. to greenhouse-gas reductions as the world's second-largest emitter.

Barack Obama · Energy & Environment · Major Decision · Sep 3, 2016
Official record: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_and_the_Paris_Agreement

## What happened

Negotiated and formally joined the 2015 Paris Agreement, committing the U.S. to greenhouse-gas reductions as the world's second-largest emitter.

## How it happened

U.S.-China cooperation drove the 2015 deal; the U.S. formally joined in September 2016.

## Documented impact

- [positive / substantiated] Anchored the first near-universal global climate accord. — U.S. leadership was widely credited as decisive in securing nearly 200 nations' participation.
- [negative / contested] Critics called the targets costly and non-binding. — Opponents argued the pledges burdened U.S. industry; the U.S. later exited twice under Trump.

## Public opinion

U.S. participation in the Paris Agreement

Support participation: 65%

Majorities in every state supported participation; 86% of Democrats vs. 42% of Republicans.

Source: Yale / Chicago Council, 2017+

## Sources

- [U.S. and the Paris Agreement (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_and_the_Paris_Agreement)

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Canonical: https://eo.alanwizemann.com/eo/obama/joining-the-paris-climate-agreement