The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, is a global effort to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, some countries have withdrawn from the agreement in recent years, causing concern among environmentalists and policymakers.
The most high-profile country to leave the Paris Agreement was the United States. Former President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal in 2017, citing the agreement`s supposed negative impact on the US economy and the unfair burden it placed on American workers and taxpayers. The US officially left the agreement on November 4, 2020, but the new administration of President Joe Biden has since rejoined it.
Another country that left the Paris Agreement was Brazil. In 2019, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro announced his intention to withdraw from the agreement, also citing economic concerns. However, the move was met with widespread criticism from environmentalists and Brazilians concerned about the impact of deforestation and other activities on the Amazon rainforest. Despite Bolsonaro`s announcement, Brazil officially remains a party to the Paris Agreement.
In 2020, the government of Belarus also announced its intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, citing similar concerns about economic impact. However, as of 2021, the country has not yet formally left the agreement.
Syria, which was in the midst of a civil war when the Paris Agreement was signed, initially did not join the agreement. However, in 2017, the country announced its intention to sign and ratify the agreement. Since then, it has been considered a party to the agreement.
The Paris Agreement remains a critical global effort to reduce emissions and combat climate change. While some countries have left the agreement, the vast majority of the world`s governments remain committed to its goals. As the impact of climate change becomes more apparent, it is likely that the importance of this agreement will only continue to grow.