Trump expands US climate retreat with exits from UN bodies

The U.S. announced it will withdraw from 66 international bodies, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, as part of a broader shift away from multinational climate cooperation. Officials and experts say the moves are likely to reduce U.S. influence on climate policy and scientific assessments.

The United States announced it will withdraw from 66 international organizations, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The decision is presented as part of a wider policy direction under President Trump that includes rolling back domestic limits on pollution and fossil fuel controls. The administration said it was leaving bodies viewed as redundant, mismanaged, or advancing agendas contrary to U.S. interests, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The move follows a January 2025 decision to begin a year-long process to quit the Paris Agreement and comes after U.S. officials were absent from recent UN climate talks in Brazil. Key facts: - The administration announced exits from 66 groups, specifically naming the UNFCCC and the IPCC among them. - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration views some institutions as redundant or poorly run and cited those concerns in the decision. - Climate experts and former officials say the withdrawals are likely to diminish U.S. influence on international emissions policy and reduce the country’s role in guiding IPCC scientific assessments. - Legal and procedural paths for rejoining UN climate agreements are disputed: some who supported withdrawal argue a future reentry would need a two‑thirds Senate vote, while some legal experts say a president could re‑accede without Senate approval. Summary: The announcement removes the United States from major UN climate bodies and is reported to reduce the U.S. role in shaping international climate policy and scientific work. The administration framed the exits as trimming membership of organizations it sees as redundant. How a future government might rejoin or otherwise restore ties is legally disputed, and the next major IPCC assessment scheduled for 2029 was already described as uncertain. Undetermined at this time.