# Announced U.S. Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement

> Trump announced the U.S. would exit the 2015 Paris Agreement, citing economic burdens on American workers and industry.

Donald Trump · Energy & Environment · Major Decision · Jun 1, 2017
Official record: https://climate.law.columbia.edu/content/president-trump-announces-withdrawal-paris-agreement-0

## What happened

Trump announced the U.S. would exit the 2015 Paris Agreement, citing economic burdens on American workers and industry. Under the treaty's terms, formal withdrawal could not take effect until November 2020.

## How it happened

Announced from the White House Rose Garden; the State Department later submitted formal notification. Withdrawal took effect November 4, 2020, and was reversed by Biden in 2021.

## Documented impact

- [positive / contested] Supporters said it removed non-binding pledges seen as economically costly. — The administration argued U.S. commitments disadvantaged domestic energy and manufacturing relative to competitors.
- [negative / substantiated] Made the U.S. the only nation to exit the accord and disrupted climate diplomacy. — The U.S. became an outlier among nearly 200 signatories; allies including France, Germany and Italy pledged to increase their own efforts.
- [mixed / substantiated] Spurred a sub-national response. — Thirty states and many cities committed to uphold Paris objectives independently of the federal government.

## Sources

- [Sabin Center, Columbia Law](https://climate.law.columbia.edu/content/president-trump-announces-withdrawal-paris-agreement-0)
- [Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/u-s-exits-paris-climate-accord-after-trump-stalls-global-warming-action-for-four-years/)

---
Canonical: https://eo.alanwizemann.com/eo/trump/announced-u-s-withdrawal-from-the-paris-climate-agreement