US withdraws from dozens of international organisations including key climate bodies
The United States is withdrawing from 66 international organisations “that no longer serve American interests”, the White House has announced. These include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Donald Trump has signed a presidential memorandum withdrawing the country from 31 UN organisations and 35 other international bodies that “run counter to the national interests of the United States”.
The White House said the groups promote “radical climate policies, global governance and ideological programs that conflict with US sovereignty and economic strength”. The move is the result of an evaluation of all international intergovernmental organisations, conventions and treaties to which the US is a signatory.
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities,” the White House statement said.
European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra criticised the withdrawal from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
"The decision by the world’s largest economy and second-largest emitter to retreat from the UNFCCC is regrettable and unfortunate"
“The UNFCCC underpins global climate action. It brings countries together to support climate action, reduce emissions, adapt to climate change, and track progress,” he wrote on LinkedIn. “The decision by the world’s largest economy and second-largest emitter to retreat from it is regrettable and unfortunate.”
The convention is the founding treaty of all other international climate agreements. It was concluded in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit.
During his first term in office, Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and Unesco. Joe Biden later reversed his predecessor’s decisions. At the beginning of his second term, Trump then withdrew his country from the World Health Organization.
Climate protestors in Washington, November 2025 © PHOTO ANDREW HARNIK / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA VIA AFP
Related news
