The United States has withdrawn from several major climate-related global bodies, including the International Solar Alliance (ISA), a collaborative initiative between India and France to promote solar energy globally. The move comes as a surprise, as the Trump administration had not hinted at such a step after withdrawing from the Paris Agreement on climate change. The US withdrawal from the ISA, which aims to mobilize $1 trillion in investments for solar energy deployment by 2030, is not expected to significantly impact the Alliance’s goals, given the minimal American contribution to the effort.
The US exit is seen as a symbolic move, reflecting the country’s increasing focus on fossil fuels, in line with President Trump’s “Drill Baby Drill” slogan. Experts believe that private US investors will continue to invest in solar energy projects under the ISA’s umbrella, driven by the potential returns on their investment. The US government’s decision is unlikely to stop private companies or sub-national players from participating in the 125-member strong ISA.
The US has also withdrawn from other climate-related organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), as part of its withdrawal from 66 global bodies. This move was expected, given the country’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and its reduced engagement on climate change issues at multilateral forums.
The US withdrawal from these bodies may have long-term implications, as a future US government under Democratic leadership may face a time-consuming process to rejoin these organizations. In contrast, rejoining the Paris Agreement can be done swiftly. During President Trump’s first term, the US had withdrawn from the Paris Agreement but continued to send delegations to multilateral forums, except for the recent UN climate conference in Brazil. The US exit from these climate-related bodies is seen as a significant setback for global efforts to address climate change, and may undermine the country’s credibility on environmental issues.