What Is The Paris Agreement? 

In the fall of 2015, more than 190 countries gathered for a United Nations Climate Summit to tackle the growing issue of climate change. There, the Paris Agreement was signed, limiting each country involved to keep global warming levels below 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius). It became official when signed into law a year later November 4, 2016, and today 195 countries worldwide have joined the agreement to take charge of the climate crisis that the world is facing.  

President Donald Trump’s Order Of Withdrawal

During President Trump’s first term in the Oval Office, he ordered that the U.S. would cease all participation in the Paris Agreement on the first of June in 2017. However, in 2021 when Biden was inaugurated, he signed an agreement once more to rejoin the cause. So it comes as no surprise that on his second-first day in office President Trump gives the executive order again to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, making the U.S one of the only countries in the world to not be involved in the climate change movement along with Iran, Libya, and Yemen. President Trump was inaugurated into his second term of presidency on January 20, 2025, and his first day on the job was extremely busy. On the same day as his inauguration, Trump ordered several executive orders that undid Biden’s previous acts and orders, one of which was ordering the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. One of President Trump’s core beliefs expressed in his campaign for presidency was that climate change was simply an idea meant to “undermine” the success of the American economy and to put the U.S at a “permanent disadvantage.” Acting on this idea, Trump has also ordered the further development of Alaskan natural resources which directly undoes the act that Biden set into motion to stop all oil and gas drilling in Alaska. Trump’s plan for oil and gas production can indefinitely give the American economy a boost, however it will majorly increase the already rapid climate change. Although many are excited about this change, and others are terrified of the possible results of these drastic changes, it calls into question how will the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement effect American citizens and the world?  

The Continuing Crisis

The Paris Agreement has had a major positive impact on the world today by slowing down the increasing rate of temperatures. Although nations worldwide are trying to slow down this crisis, the rate of climate change over the past few centuries, more specifically as of the 1980s, is unprecedented. Much of the world has been ignorant of this issue due to the little effect it has on everyday life, however scientists have something new to say on the effects of climate change, one of which has hit millions of citizens of the U.S just recently. The devastating California wildfires are thought to be one of the many effects of the rising temperatures. The long string of wildfires that has raged throughout the state of California over the month of January has destroyed over 10,000 homes and killed over 25 people. Not only this, but scientists now believe that the climate crisis will lead to stronger hurricanes, more severe storms, and increased drought.  

When informed of this new change, Hingham High sophomore Maeve Maroney, had some strong opinions about this new development, saying, “The withdrawal from the Paris Agreement was a bad choice by Trump and will leave the U.S. at a great disadvantage when it comes to saving the planet. This change also speaks volumes to President Trump’s values and selfishness, and it leaves me a fear for what is to come of his presidency.” Furthermore, another Hingham High School Sophomore, Maggie Flynn, had more negative ideas when it comes to this order “This shows how unintelligent he is, this has been scientifically proven that climate change is a real thing. It has only been scientifically proven, but it is also felt and seen around the world. The fact that Trump took the U.S out of the Paris Agreement just goes to show the danger that he is bringing to the country and the world.”  

Whether this executive order was positive or not, it is encouraged that people are aware of the rising temperatures of the planet and to make slight changes in their everyday lives to help slow down this rapid issue.