CLIMATE ACTION SANS AMERICA

With the US retreating from multilateralism, governments must find ways to meet critical climate goals without American involvement. The path forward lies in forging mutually beneficial partnerships that align climate objectives with the unique needs of emerging markets and developing economies

- Jean Pisani-Ferry & Beatrice Weder di Mauro

Scientists have repeatedly warned us — with ever-growing intensity —that the planet is hurtling toward climate tipping points.

Despite numerous international pledges, the evidence suggests that limiting global warming to 1.5° Celsius is increasingly unlikely. If current trends persist, that threshold could be breached as early as 2028. At the same time, biodiversity loss is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, with dire consequences for vulnerable communities and humanity at large. A stable climate and healthy ecosystems are inextricably linked, implying the risk of cascading catastrophes.

To be sure, there has been some progress on both fronts. The 2015 Paris agreement was the most ambitious and politically viable climate deal of its time. Based on a “pledge and review” model, it set an ambitious yet attainable target and introduced mechanisms to ensure broad participation, while establishing a framework for assessing national commitments against the shared goal.

Then, in 2022, COP15 adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, following a similar approach. While some major countries like India remained far behind, there was hope that they would eventually join as global momentum continued to build. That optimism was short-lived. On the very first day of his second term, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Unleashing American Energy” and announced that the US would once again withdraw from the Paris agreement, dismissing climate change as a “hoax.” Governments and civil society now face a fundamental challenge: developing viable strategies for achieving climate and biodiversity goals without US involvement.