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U.S. formally exits Paris accord on curbing climate change
Environment Nov 05, 2020
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BERLIN — The United States on Wednesday formally left the Paris agreement, a global pact forged five years ago to avert the threat of catastrophic climate change.
The move, long promised by President Trump and put in motion by his administration a year ago, further isolates the U.S. but has no immediate impact on international efforts to curb global warming.
Some 189 countries remain committed to the 2015 Paris accord, which aims to keep the increase in average temperatures worldwide “well below” 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and ideally no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), compared with preindustrial levels. Six other countries have signed but not ratified the pact.
Still, the United Nations agency that oversees the treaty, France as the host of the 2015 Paris talks and three countries currently chairing the body that organizes them — Chile, Britain and Italy — issued a joint statement expressing regret at the U.S. withdrawal.
“There is no greater responsibility than protecting our planet and people from the threat of climate change,” the statement said. “The science is […]