Executive Order 14162
Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements
Signed on January 20, 2025
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14162, directing the United States to withdraw from the Paris Agreement and all other international climate commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The order also revokes U.S. financial contributions to global climate initiatives and requires federal agencies to prioritize economic considerations over environmental policies in international energy agreements.
🔗 Read the Executive Order on the Federal Register
🔗 Read the White House Announcement
What You Should Know
The U.S. is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement—again.
The Paris Agreement, signed by nearly every country in the world, is the most significant international effort to combat climate change. It sets voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming. Trump first withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2020, but Biden rejoined in 2021. Now, Trump is once again reversing course, isolating the U.S. from global climate cooperation.
This withdrawal means the U.S. will no longer be part of discussions on international climate policies, making it harder to influence decisions that affect global markets, trade policies, and environmental regulations. It also signals to the world that the U.S. is unwilling to participate in the collective effort to slow climate change, despite being one of the world’s largest carbon emitters.
Global climate funding commitments are being revoked.
The order immediately cancels all U.S. financial contributions to international climate initiatives, including the Green Climate Fund, which helps developing countries transition to clean energy and adapt to climate impacts. The U.S. previously pledged billions to these efforts, recognizing that climate change is a global problem requiring shared responsibility.
By cutting off these funds, the administration is abandoning commitments made by past U.S. leaders and diminishing American influence in international climate policy. Other nations, particularly China and the European Union, will now take the lead in shaping global environmental strategies—potentially to the disadvantage of American businesses that operate in international markets.
The order prioritizes fossil fuel interests over clean energy innovation.
One of the key directives in this order is for U.S. agencies to prioritize economic efficiency and fossil fuel production in all international energy agreements. This means U.S. trade and diplomatic efforts will focus on promoting oil, coal, and gas rather than investing in renewable energy technologies that are rapidly expanding worldwide.
The global energy market is already shifting toward renewables, with solar and wind becoming more cost-effective than fossil fuels in many regions. By clinging to outdated energy policies, this order makes it harder for U.S. companies to compete in the fast-growing clean energy sector, ceding economic opportunities to countries that are embracing green technology.
Climate change is already costing the U.S. billions—and this will make it worse.
The administration frames this order as a way to “protect the American economy,” but the reality is that climate disasters—hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and heatwaves—are already costing the U.S. hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Refusing to take action on climate change only increases these risks.
Investing in renewable energy and climate resilience would create jobs, reduce energy costs, and strengthen the economy. Instead, this order prioritizes short-term corporate profits over long-term economic stability and public safety.
Who Wins?
Fossil Fuel Companies and Lobbyists
By withdrawing from climate agreements and prioritizing fossil fuel production, this order gives oil, gas, and coal companies exactly what they want—fewer regulations, less international oversight, and continued government support for outdated energy sources. This move allows these industries to operate without accountability for their environmental impact.
Right-Wing Politicians and Climate Change Deniers
The withdrawal from international climate commitments aligns with the political agenda of right-wing politicians who reject climate science and oppose environmental regulations. This order provides them with a symbolic victory in their ongoing efforts to roll back climate policies, despite overwhelming evidence that climate action is necessary for economic and public health stability.
Foreign Competitors in Clean Energy
As the U.S. retreats from climate leadership, other countries will step in to fill the void. China, the European Union, and even smaller nations investing in renewables will have greater influence over global energy policies. U.S. clean energy companies will face more obstacles in competing internationally, while foreign firms gain a competitive edge in solar, wind, and battery technologies.
Who Loses?
The American Public
Climate change affects everyone, and this order makes it harder to address the increasing threats posed by extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and worsening air and water quality. Americans will continue to face the economic and health consequences of inaction while paying the price for disasters caused by climate inaction.
Clean Energy Workers and Future Job Growth
The renewable energy sector is one of the fastest-growing job markets in the U.S. This order undermines efforts to support clean energy development, potentially slowing job creation in industries like solar, wind, and battery storage. By prioritizing fossil fuels, the administration is betting on a declining industry rather than investing in the jobs of the future.
International Relations and U.S. Global Influence
Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and cutting climate funding damages America’s reputation as a global leader. Other nations will see the U.S. as unreliable in international agreements, making it harder to build coalitions on issues beyond climate change, including trade and national security.
Vulnerable Communities in the U.S. and Abroad
Low-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately affected by climate change and pollution. By rolling back climate commitments, this order ensures that these populations will face even greater environmental and economic hardships. At the global level, developing nations that rely on U.S. climate aid will be left without critical resources to combat rising sea levels, droughts, and food shortages.
Executive Order 14162 is a massive step backward in the fight against climate change. By withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, halting climate funding, and prioritizing fossil fuel expansion, this administration is choosing short-term corporate profits over long-term economic stability, public health, and environmental security. The decision isolates the U.S. from international climate leadership and undermines American innovation in the global clean energy market.
The reality is that climate change is happening whether or not this administration acknowledges it. Countries around the world are moving forward with climate policies and clean energy investments, and the U.S. risks being left behind. The economic, environmental, and human costs of climate inaction will only continue to rise.
Take Action
Stay Informed and Challenge Climate Misinformation
Climate change denial and misinformation are rampant in political discourse. Fact-check claims, rely on credible scientific sources, and push back against false narratives that downplay the severity of the climate crisis.
Support Clean Energy and Climate Policy Advocates
Organizations fighting for climate action need public support. Donate, volunteer, or advocate for policies that promote renewable energy, environmental protections, and sustainability initiatives at local, state, and federal levels.
Hold Elected Officials Accountable
Elected leaders should prioritize climate action and environmental responsibility. Contact representatives, vote for candidates who support sustainable policies, and demand that the U.S. remains engaged in global climate efforts.
The fight against climate change requires collective action. Staying informed, pushing for accountability, and advocating for sustainable policies are essential to countering the damage caused by reckless decisions like this executive order.
Misinformation and fear are often used to obstruct climate action and justify policies that harm the environment and vulnerable communities. Always fact-check, research independently, and challenge narratives that downplay the climate crisis or delay necessary solutions. The most effective way to combat these policies is to stay informed, advocate for sustainable solutions, and hold leaders accountable for their role in addressing climate change.
