WEB DESK: President Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum directing withdrawal of the United States from sixty-six international organizations.
Trump justified the withdrawals by stating these organizations oppose US interests and directed agencies to act quickly to finalize the exit. Secretary of State Marco Rubio labeled them “anti-American” and vowed to end funding for institutions deemed wasteful.
Notable exits include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), pivotal to global climate efforts.
Established in 1992, the UNFCCC spearheaded treaties like the Paris Agreement, which Trump has previously abandoned. The US is now the first and only nation to leave the UNFCCC, a move critics deem a mistake. David Widawsky of the World Resources Institute called it “strategic blunder,” arguing it sidelines the US from essential climate action.
The decision has sparked global outrage. Experts like Rachel Cleetus of the Union of Concerned Scientists condemned it as damaging and regressive. Former White House climate adviser Gina McCarthy called it “shortsighted” and “embarrassing.” However, Widawsky expressed hope, emphasizing that international cooperation on climate solutions will continue to foster economic growth and save lives globally.
