Does The United States Participate In The Paris Agreement: A Closer Look

As of February 2023, the Paris Agreement of 2015 boasts 195 member countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Among these member states, only three have yet to ratify the agreement, with Iran being the sole significant emitter among them. It’s worth noting that the United States initially withdrew from the Paris Agreement in 2020. However, they subsequently re-entered the agreement in 2021, marking a significant shift in their climate policy. This global accord aims to address climate change by uniting nations in their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

After the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act earlier this year, the United States has made significant strides toward achieving its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. The Inflation Reduction Act represents a crucial step in the country’s efforts to combat climate change. As of November 17, 2022, the United States is on a trajectory to achieve a commendable reduction of approximately 40 percent in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2005 levels by the year 2030. It’s important to note, however, that the Paris Agreement sets a more ambitious target for the United States, calling for a minimum 50 percent reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. While the Inflation Reduction Act marks substantial progress, further actions and policies will be needed to bridge the gap between the current trajectory and the Paris Agreement’s objectives.