Trump effect

President Donald Trump’s recent withdrawal from critical international climate commitments through executive orders, alongside his administration’s revival of fossil fuel-centric policies, has once again shaken the fragile foundation of global climate action. The Paris Agreement, hailed as a monumental global pact, symbolised the spirit of solidarity in limiting global warming to well below 2C. However, President Trump’s renewed retreat from this agreement signals a troubling disregard for the moral and historical responsibility of major emitters. The United States, being one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, has an outsized role to play in combating this crisis.

Yet, by withdrawing funding from mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund, Trump’s policies disproportionately affect vulnerable nations, including Pakistan, that rely on international support to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts. The climate crisis is a shared challenge that transcends borders and administrations. President Trump’s renewed withdrawal reminds us of the fragility of progress and the dangers of political myopia. The global community must unite to counter such setbacks, ensuring that no political agenda derails the collective effort to secure a sustainable future.

Majid Burfat

Karachi