President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum directing the United States to begin withdrawing from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), two of the central international frameworks for global climate policy and science. In addition, the memorandum orders U.S. agencies to terminate participation in and funding for a total of 66 international organizations, conventions, and treaties that the administration considers contrary to U.S. national interests. This makes the United States the first country to exit the UNFCCC, the foundational treaty underlying international climate negotiations and agreements such as the Paris Agreement.
The list of bodies affected by the decision includes a significant share of climate, renewable energy, and sustainable development institutions, such as the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and other global initiatives aimed at environmental cooperation. The White House has framed the withdrawals as a defense of national sovereignty and a realignment of resources toward domestic priorities. Critics, however, argue that this retreat from multilateral climate commitments undermines U.S. leadership on climate action and could hinder global efforts to address environmental challenges.