SYLLABUS
GS-2: Effect of Policies and Politics of Developed and Developing Countries on India’s interests, Indian Diaspora.
Important International Institutions, agencies and fora – their Structure, Mandate.
Context: US President Donald Trump has withdrawn the US from dozens of international organisations, including many that work to combat climate change.
More on the News:
• The decision was formalised through a presidential memorandum signed on November 7, 2025, covering 35 non-UN bodies and 31 United Nations entities.
• The White House, in an official statement, said the organisations “no longer serve American interests” and advance agendas that are “ineffective or hostile”.
Potential consequences for the world:
• Break from climate governance: The US will no longer negotiate as a Party at Conference of Parties (COP), will fall outside the emissions reporting and review system, and will lose its ability to shape global climate rules from within.
- According to UNEP’s 2025 Emissions Gap Report, the world is currently on track for 2.3-2.8°C of warming this century—far above the Paris Agreement goals. The US exit from Paris alone is expected to add around 0.1°C to global warming.
• Weakens global climate architecture: Without formal U.S. participation, the world loses a key negotiator in climate talks, potentially slowing Global Climate Cooperation and reducing incentive for others to commit.
• Biggest historical polluter is opting out: The US is one of the world’s largest contributors to climate change.
- According to the Global Carbon Project, US territorial CO2 emissions in 2024 were around 4.9 billion tonnes—about 12.7 per cent of global emissions. Per capita emissions stood at roughly 14.6 tonnes, far above the global average.
- Historically, the US remains the single largest cumulative emitter of CO2 from fossil fuels and industry, accounting for about 24 per cent of total emissions.
• Climate finance Gap and global trust: Climate finance will become more uncertain and could delay the transition to renewable energy, green technology investment, and clean infrastructure planning worldwide.
- At COP29 in Azerbaijan in 2024, governments agreed to a new collective goal of at least $300 billion a year by 2035.
• Weakening Multilateralism: Sets a wrong precedent where powerful states opt out of global cooperation “when inconvenient,” potentially weakening the rules-based international system.
Major international treaties and bodies from which the United States has pulled out:
• 31 United Nations and UN-affiliated bodies such as UNFCCC, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN Conference on Trade and Development etc.
- Paris Agreement is a protocol under the UNFCCC and was twice withdrawn during the Trump administration (2020 and 2025).
• 35 Bodies Non-UN Global Organisations such as International Energy Forum, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) etc.
• Other Historic Withdrawals:
- o WHO (World Health Organization) — exit set to take effect Jan 2026.
- o UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) — 2019 Withdrawal took effect.
- o UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2018.