The United States is currently the world’s second largest greenhouse gas emitter. In the closing months of 2019, Trump formally announced that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Out of almost two hundred countries that signed the Paris Agreement, the U.S. is the first and only country to withdraw from the agreement. The Paris climate agreement was made with the intention of reducing greenhouse gas emission rates by committing countries to new reduction strategies. The agreement encouraged countries to make greater efforts to combat the pressing issue of climate change. The world is experiencing the consequences of climate change seen in rising water levels, heat waves, and frequent natural disasters. With the worsening issue of climate change, the U.S. is not setting a good example for other countries in their efforts to try to battle climate change.
Climate change is an issue that knows no borders. What one country does affects the whole Earth, and in order to make decisions to create big change, climate change must be tackled internationally. According to the UN, we have less than a decade before the damage of climate change is irreversible and we will see serious consequences. Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement will not go into effect until fall of next year when a new president will be elected. If a new individual steps into office, they could rejoin the Paris agreement – which is one of the many reasons to make sure you get out and vote next year. The future of our planet is in our hands and we need to take action before it becomes too late.
Some countries are doing more than others and we should all fall in their footsteps. Some of the leading examples, according to the world climate report card from National Geographic, are Morocco, Gambia, and Costa Rica. Morocco and Gambia are the only countries that have created plans to reduce their CO2 emissions to a level consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Both countries rely heavily on reusable products in their plans. Another country leading the way in renewable energy is India. India has established a goal of generating forty percent of power through clean renewable energy by 2030. Costa Rica is another top country keeping their promises in the Paris agreement. Costa Rica is aiming for its electricity production to be one hundred percent renewable by 2030. Seeing the great progress these countries are making highlights just how little the U.S. government is doing to push for change. The U.S. needs to make changes fast, considering we are one of the top emitters of greenhouse gasses. This coming year we need to do our part and make sure to vote for a candidate who is pushing for plans to tackle the issue of climate change.