As of February 19, 2021, the U.S. has officially rejoined the Paris Climate agreement. President Biden signed an executive order 30 days prior on his inauguration day to begin the process of rejoining. The U.S. originally joined the accords during the Obama administration where according to CNN, they pledged to “slash carbon emissions by 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2025.” However, President Trump exited the agreement during his term back in 2017. 

The goal of the Climate Agreement was to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius by 2100 and have the countries in the pact pursue lessening greenhouse gas emissions every 5 years. The signing of this pact is also incredibly historic because it is the first time so many nations united under a common cause to better the world.

President Biden has also made plans to host a climate summit on Earth Day this April 22nd with world leaders where he will release America’s plan to reduce carbon emissions by 2030. NPR has stated that Biden also promised to “cut greenhouse gas emissions from the nation’s electric sector by the year 2035 and to make the country carbon neutral by 2050.” 

It was very important that America rejoin the agreement because the U.S. is the second largest producer of carbon emissions in the world and deeply impacts global climate change more than most other nations. Through the re-entering of the accords, it shows other countries that the United States is serious about helping combat climate change and protect the future. 

The average American can already see the danger of global warming through the bizarre and capricious weather and natural disasters, but it goes beyond that for citizens of 3rd world nations. Global warming is the cause of their hunger and deaths. The window to reverse the effects of climate change is closing, but hopefully the U.S. taking a part in this agreement will help make the future better for the sake of humanity.