The Trump Administration officially informed the United Nations on Monday that it is withdrawing the U.S. from the 2016 Paris Agreement that requires them to invest more than $1 trillion per year in actions to address climate challenges.
Key milestones that were to be met by the U.S. by next year included among others making use of environmentally-friendly agriculture practices; decreasing emissions in the aviation and shipping sectors; canceling investments in coal, oil and gas production; and imposing a moratorium on the construction of new coal-fired power plants and closing existing ones.
“As noted in his June 1, 2017 remarks, President Trump made the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained in a statement on Monday, “because of the unfair economic burden imposed on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers by U.S. pledges made under the Agreement.”
Despite the withdrawal, Pompeo said in the statement that the U.S. will continue to collaborate with its partners around the globe to reduce emissions.
“U.S. emissions of criteria air pollutants that impact human health and the environment declined by 74 percent between 1970 and 2018,” Pompeo said. “U.S. net greenhouse gas emissions dropped 13 percent from 2005 to 2017, even as our economy grew over 19 percent.”
Related Articles
Apr. 12, 2024
Olive Growing Starting to Take Root in Central Europe
As climate change makes Central European winters milder and drier, farmers in Austria and northeastern Croatia are beginning to plant olives.
Feb. 29, 2024
Campaign Aims to Curb Misuse of 'Regenerative' in Agriculture
With rising demand for organic olive oil, California farmers are at the forefront of efforts to promote the true meaning of organic, regenerative agriculture.
Dec. 21, 2023
Climate Extremes, Economic Pressures Dampen 2023 Harvest, Survey Finds
Olive oil producers gave the 2023 harvest a dismal rating in terms of yields and quality.
Nov. 7, 2024
Harvest in Greece Runs Into Early Problems
The ongoing drought battering southern Greece threatens to reduce this year's expected olive oil yield of around 240,000 tons.
Jun. 3, 2024
Xylella-Resilient Groves Are the Future of Apulian Olive Oil
Farmers’ associations, researchers and institutions are teaming up to replant Xylella fastidiosa-resilient olive trees in Puglia.
Dec. 3, 2023
2023 Is the Hottest Year on Record; 2024 Will Likely Be Hotter
The average global temperature in 2023 was 1.40 ºC above the pre-industrial average, with many olive-growing regions bearing the brunt of extreme heat.
Apr. 16, 2024
Trees Less Effective at Sequestering Carbon in a Hotter, Drier World, Study Finds
High temperatures and a lack of water can stress the world's trees, causing them to emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere instead of absorbing it.
Jan. 3, 2024
Researchers Develop Algorithm to Predict Harvest Potential from Climate Data
The publicly available algorithm was developed using 15 years of data from Italy to compare how combinations of climatic events impacted subsequent harvests.