When the World's Largest Economy Walks Away from Climate Responsibility

Exiting IPCC and UNFCCC signals a retreat from climate accountability, with far-reaching consequences for science, diplomacy, and global cooperation

By: Abhishek Panwar  Member, C-Cube | Climate Cadets Collective

"We will drill, baby, drill!" | Source: Media

Climate change is no longer merely an environmental crisis it has become the most pressing global challenge facing human civilisation. Rising temperatures, erratic monsoons, droughts, floods, food insecurity, and water scarcity are not warnings anymore; they are the price we are paying. At a time when the world needs collective leadership and responsibility more than ever, the withdrawal of the United States the world's largest economy and most powerful nation from climate agreements is deeply concerning.

The Trump administration's decision to exit the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is not simply a policy shift; it represents a clear retreat from global climate accountability. This decision comes at a moment when the scientific community is repeatedly warning us that we have extremely limited time left to act.

America has long functioned as a petrostate-influenced economy, where the oil and gas industry wields profound influence over political decisions. This is why America's record on climate leadership has always been contradictory. Alongside certain nations, the United States has repeatedly played a role in weakening global climate commitments or keeping them at minimal levels. The difference is that due to America's global power, every step it takes affects the entire world.

The IPCC is the body that produces the world's most credible scientific reports on climate change, whilst the UNFCCC is the platform where conferences such as COP are held and countries work together to find solutions. Withdrawing from these institutions is akin to ignoring science and undermining multilateral cooperation. The Trump administration has labelled 66 international organisations including IRENA and the International Solar Alliance, which are the backbone of the future clean energy economy as being "against American interests." This thinking demonstrates that short-term political gains are being prioritised over long-term human welfare.

The global impact of this decision will be profound. America's absence will make climate negotiations considerably more difficult, as a major economy pulling in the wrong direction weakens global consensus. There is also a genuine risk that some countries may not take their commitments seriously. Furthermore, the possibility of increased CO₂ emissions both within and beyond America is very real. The climate crisis does not permit any such "breaks."

However, there is another dimension to this situation. Even without America, 197 countries remain committed to the UNFCCC. This could transform America's absence into an opportunity for the rest of the world to adopt more ambitious, more equitable, and more scientifically grounded climate policies. The centre of global leadership may shift, proving that the future of our planet does not depend on the whims of any single nation.

Nevertheless, it must be said that America itself will suffer economically and strategically from this decision. Clean energy, green technology, and climate-friendly investments will define the global economy of the coming decades. Isolating itself from this race will deprive America of opportunities in innovation, investment, and employment. Isolationism has never been a sustainable solution in history.

Crucially, this decision is not permanent. Formally withdrawing from the UNFCCC takes one year, and any future administration can bring America back into the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. I am confident that future governments will recognise this historic mistake and fulfil their responsibilities alongside the global community. After all, America played a vital role in shaping these agreements precisely because they served its national interests.

What is needed today is for world leaders, policymakers, industry, financial institutions, and civil society to stand firmly together against climate inaction. Withdrawing from treaties is easy, but fulfilling responsibility to future generations requires courage. For sustainable development, climate justice, and an inclusive world, we must strengthen science, diplomacy, and global cooperation.

The climate crisis recognises no borders. If America retreats, the world must still move forward but we must also maintain the hope that America will understand its historical responsibility, reconsider its decision, and once again become a responsible part of global climate efforts. This is in the interest of both humanity and our planet.