The United States has withdrawn from 66 international organizations, including pivotal climate treaties, marking a dramatic shift in American environmental policy that UN officials warn will leave the country "less secure and less prosperous," according to recent reports from Earth.org and NBC News.
The policy reversal comes at a critical time, as 2025 has become the third-highest year for billion-dollar weather and climate disasters in US history. According to Climate Central data cited by Earth.org, 23 major weather and climate disasters caused an estimated 276 fatalities and $115 billion in damage across the United States.
Global Climate Leadership Vacuum
The US exit from international climate treaties has created a leadership void that China is increasingly filling, according to NBC News reporting from the COP30 climate summit in Brazil. Critics argue this withdrawal "cedes valuable ground as China, the world's top greenhouse gas emitter, rapidly expands its renewable and EV industries."
UN Climate Chief has warned that America's departure from international climate cooperation will ultimately harm the country's own interests, describing the move as creating conditions where the US becomes "less secure and less prosperous."
State-Level Resistance
Despite federal policy changes, some US states are maintaining climate commitments. California Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking at COP30, criticized Trump's climate policies as "dumb" and emphasized that California, the world's fourth-largest economy, would continue prioritizing green technology [NBC News].
New York State continues to demonstrate climate leadership through its Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), with updated guidance from the Department of Environmental Conservation incorporating climate change considerations into agency activities [DEC.ny.gov].
Scientific Warnings Intensify
The policy shifts occur against a backdrop of increasingly urgent scientific warnings. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports emphasize the need for "strong and sustained reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases," according to UN documentation. The reports indicate that changes in Earth's climate are "unprecedented in thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of years."
UN climate reports identify that an estimated 3.6 billion people live in areas most susceptible to climate change, highlighting the global scope of climate vulnerabilities [UN.org].
International Negotiations Continue
At the recent COP30 climate summit, participating countries reached a deal to increase funding for nations hit by climate change, though the agreement lacks explicit fossil fuel transition plans. Brazilian hosts indicated they would work with Colombia to develop a roadmap for moving away from fossil fuels [NBC News].
The changing US position has altered dynamics at international climate negotiations, with other nations working to fill the leadership gap left by American withdrawal from key agreements.
Looking Forward
As extreme weather events continue to intensify globally, with Australia facing Los Angeles-style wildfire risks and the EU delaying deforestation regulations, the international community faces the challenge of advancing climate action without full US participation in multilateral frameworks.