What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Climate Agreement is a landmark agreement signed in 2015 by 195 countries to combat global climate change. Its central aim is to strengthen the global response to climate change by keeping a global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Under the Agreement, countries voluntarily put forward their self-defined emission reduction goals through "nationally determined contributions" and to regularly report their emissions and implementation efforts. The United States pledged to cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025 and was already halfway towards its goal, having cut emissions by 14 percent. The United States joined Syria and Nicaragua as the only countries not participating in the Agreement. Nicaragua did not sign because it did not think the Agreement did enough to combat climate change; Syria was in the midst of a civil war.

President Trump has pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement. Now what?

On June 1, 2017, President Trump announced the United States is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. Technically, the United States is not 'out', yet. The Paris Agreement only allows countries to give notice of withdrawal three years after it enters into force — which will be November 4, 2019. It is then another year before the United States can actually withdraw. So November 4, 2020 is the earliest the United States can officially be 'out'. The administration can change its mind at any point beforehand, and indeed a new president can rejoin and see the United States reenter into the Agreement within 30 days.

What is this "We Are Still In" letter?

While President Trump's decision signaled a retreat of the federal government from climate action, it has also ignited passionate defense of the Agreement and mobilized people and institutions across the country in support of action. Nearly 6 in 10 Americans disagree with Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement. Moreover, a grand coalition of 1,200+ governors, mayors, businesses, investors, and universities have publicly declared their support for the Paris Agreement in a letter to the international community. It has been a swift and loud rebuke to the President's message that America, and Americans, are not committed to doing their part to tackle a global challenge.

More than a letter.

The letter is an important public statement that in the absence of U.S. federal leadership, there are thousands willing to step-up and take action. More importantly though is those who are actually signed onto the letter. They are the people and groups who will deliver the emission reductions, regardless of whether the United States is in the Agreement or not. It is the states and cities, businesses and investors, and university campuses across the country who have the ability to take serious action in support of the Agreement.

And they already are. States and cities have set ambitious reduction targets that go well beyond what the United States pledged under the Paris Agreement, and are making progress to meet these targets. Businesses are moving to 100 percent renewable energy, and making changes in their practices to be cleaner and more efficient. Investors are recognizing the risks and opportunities posed by climate change, and allocating their money in response. And universities, often small cities themselves, have long been at the forefront of sustainable practices.

Is the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement such a big issue if progress will continue to be made?

The case for the Paris Agreement can be made on many grounds — as a moral obligation, a diplomatic tool, a collective action solution, an economic opportunity. And on these, the United States withdrawing is a big issue — we are abandoning an issue for which we bear not insignificant responsibility; forfeiting established and respected global leadership; and leaving many of the opportunities of the 21st century economy on the table.

The people and groups stepping up will indeed continue to make progress, as they have done for decades. But what we have lost is a partner in the federal government – the main linkage with the collective efforts of the global community, a significant source of technical and financial assistance, and with the instruments to shepherd diverse groups towards collective goals. It will take time to establish new ways of organizing and doing to replace this partner, and climate change is an issue for which time is in short supply.

What can you do?

• On Saturday, June 10, join those mobilizing in city halls and statehouses across the country to defend the Paris Agreement.
• Add your name to the list of Americans who, along with 194 countries across the world, are committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
• Tell your local officials to join the other 90 U.S. mayors who committed to 100 percent clean or renewable energy.
• Check with your electric utility and state public utility commission to see about switching to renewable energy.