Climate change has become an increasingly pressing issue facing the global community, with the United States taking an active role in addressing this important challenge. As the world`s largest economy and one of the leading emitters of greenhouse gases, the US has a critical role to play in advancing international agreements on climate change. In this article, we`ll explore some of the key international agreements on climate change that the US is involved in and the impact they have on the country`s environmental policy.

The Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement is perhaps the most well-known international agreement on climate change, and the US played a significant role in its creation. Signed in 2015, the Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It is notable for its broad scope, as it includes both developed and developing countries and covers all major sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

The US was a key player in the creation of the Paris Agreement, and it was one of the first countries to sign on. However, in 2017, the Trump administration announced that it would withdraw from the agreement, arguing that it would harm the US economy. The US officially withdrew from the Paris Agreement in November 2020, but President Joe Biden has since announced that the country will rejoin the agreement.

The Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty that was signed in 1997 and aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrialized countries. The US was a signatory to the protocol, but it never ratified it. The protocol has been widely criticized for its limited scope, as it only covered developed countries and did not include major emitters such as China and India.

Despite not ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, the US did make efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions during this time. For example, President George W. Bush introduced the Clear Skies Initiative in 2002, which aimed to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and mercury from power plants.

The Montreal Protocol

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty that was signed in 1987 and aimed to phase out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. Although not specifically focused on climate change, the Montreal Protocol has had a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as many of the substances it targets are also potent greenhouse gases.

The US was a signatory to the Montreal Protocol and has been a leader in implementing its requirements. For example, the US phased out the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the late 1990s, which were widely used in refrigerants and other industrial applications. This has led to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, as CFCs are a potent greenhouse gas.

Conclusion

As the world continues to grapple with the challenge of climate change, the US has played an important role in advancing international agreements on this issue. From the Paris Agreement to the Montreal Protocol, these agreements have helped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment. As the country looks to the future, it will be important to continue to prioritize climate action and work with other countries to address this critical issue.