Extract from ABC News
The United States has formally left the Paris Agreement, a global pact forged five years ago to avert the threat of catastrophic climate change.
Key points:
- The Paris Accord requires countries to set their own voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gases
- The United States is the world's second biggest emitter after China
- Any rise beyond two degrees Celsius could have a devastating impact on large parts of the world
The Trump administration told the United Nations it intends to pull out of the agreement in 2017.
Some 189 countries remain committed to the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Moving forward the agreement aims to keep the global increase in average temperatures worldwide "well below" two degrees Celsius, ideally no more than 1.5 Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.
A further six countries have signed, but not ratified the pact.
Scientists said any rise beyond two degrees Celsius could have a devastating impact on large parts of the world, raising sea levels, stoking tropical storms and worsening droughts and floods.
The Paris Accord requires countries to set their own voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
The only binding requirement is that nations have to accurately report on their efforts.
The United States is the world's second-largest emitter of heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide, with only China producing more.
In recent weeks, China, Japan and South Korea have joined the European Union and several other countries in setting national deadlines to stop pumping more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
While the Trump Administration has shunned Federal Government measures to cut emissions, some states, cities and businesses in the US have pressed ahead with their own efforts.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has said he favours signing the US back up to the Paris Accord.
With the United States outside the pact, it will be harder for the rest of the world to reach the agreed goals.
AP
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