President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement has sparked quite some debates worldwide.
While some see it as a setback for global climate action, others view it as a win for U.S. economic and policy priorities. And there is also the renewed attention for nuclear energy in the USA.
Here’s a closer look at both sides.
The Global View: A Step Back for Climate Cooperation
The Paris Climate Agreement united countries to fight climate change together. Its main goal is to keep global warming below 2°C, with a stretch target of 1.5°C.
The world’s largest greenhouse gas emitters are:
- Canada: Emitting about 736 million tonnes, making up 1.9% of the global total.
- China: Leading with approximately 11,535 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions, accounting for 30.34% of the global total.
- United States: Emitting around 5,107 million tonnes, which is 13.43% of global emissions.
- India: Contributing about 3,394 million tonnes, making up 8.7% of the global share.
- European Union (EU27): Collectively responsible for 3,383 million tonnes, or 8.69% of global emissions.
- Russia: Producing approximately 2,476 million tonnes, accounting for 6.83% of global emissions.
- Japan: Emitting around 1,166 million tonnes, which is 3.03% of the global total.
- Brazil: Contributing about 1,057 million tonnes, making up 2.8% of global emissions.
- Indonesia: Responsible for approximately 1,002 million tonnes, or 2.6% of global emissions.
- Iran: Producing around 893 million tonnes, accounting for 2.4% of global emissions.
By leaving, the U.S. – one of the world’s biggest polluters – weakens this global effort. Other countries, like China and the EU, remain committed, but the U.S. exit makes it harder to meet the agreement’s goals. Without the U.S., global collaboration loses momentum, and progress slows. This move also sends the wrong message many believe, discouraging other nations from doing their part.
At the same time, the world still depends heavily on fossil fuels and nuclear energy has – for the wrong reasons – been given a stamp as being non-sustainable by most climate activist lobby groups. Fossil fuels make up 80% of global energy.
The U.S. View: Protecting Jobs and Sovereignty
From an American perspective, leaving the Paris Climate Agreement protects the economy. Donald Trump argued the deal unfairly targeted the U.S., costing jobs and raising energy prices. Industries like coal, oil, and gas would face the biggest losses, according to his administration.
Instead of following international rules, the U.S. focused on its own energy needs. The government pushed for more oil and gas production, reduced limits on drilling, and expanded liquefied natural gas exports. These steps, supporters say, boosted energy independence and kept energy costs low.
The decision also reflected a push for sovereignty. Donald Trump believed international agreements should not dictate American policies. By leaving, the U.S. kept control of its environmental regulations and avoided being bound by foreign rules.
Renewed Nuclear Energy Adoption in the USA
Although the USA pulled out of the Paris climate agreement, let’s not forget that United States is actively investing in nuclear power through both government initiatives and private sector involvement. The Biden-Harris Administration for instance has announced a $900 million investment to build and deploy next-generation nuclear reactors. And, President Donald Trump has signaled support for nuclear energy during his second term.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of Energy is investing billions into the nation’s clean energy infrastructure, with nuclear power being a key component. Also large U.S. technology firms are investing in advanced nuclear reactor technologies to meet their increasing demand for power and emissions-reduction goals.
Companies like Amazon Web Services and Google have announced partnerships and investments in advanced nuclear reactor developers. And Bill Gates’ nuclear energy startup, TerraPower, has partnered with Sabey Data Centers to explore using advanced nuclear reactors to power data centers in the U.S.
In August 2024, Trump already announced plans to lower electricity costs by building new power plants and promoting small modular nuclear reactors. He criticized previous energy policies and vowed to declare a national emergency to boost energy production. The strategy aims to attract manufacturers by reducing energy costs, modernize the grid, streamline approvals, and construct numerous power plants. The plan includes support for nuclear energy through updated regulations and investments in modular reactors. Advocates believe modular reactors could offer faster, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly energy alternatives.
The Bigger Picture
This decision clearly shows a clash between global responsibilities and national priorities. For the world, losing the U.S. is a blow to climate action. But for the U.S., it means prioritizing jobs, energy, and policy freedom.
Now, other nations will have to pick up the slack to keep the Paris Agreement alive. Meanwhile, the U.S. risks falling behind in clean energy innovation and losing its influence in global climate talks.
China is in the meantime actively working to address climate change through various initiatives. The country has made significant investments in renewable energy, leading the world in the installation of solar and wind power. In fact, China reached its 1,200 gigawatt wind and solar capacity target six years ahead of schedule, totaling 1,206 GW by the end of July 2024.
Additionally, it has committed to peaking its carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. The nation is also on track to meet its 25% non-fossil energy share target by 2030, with projections suggesting it could surpass 30%. But despite the rapid expansion of renewable energy, coal still provides nearly 60% of China’s electricity due to economic and energy security needs. Balancing the phase-out of coal while meeting rising electricity demand is a huge hurdle.
In short, there is still a lot of work to be done.