US President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his plans to withdraw the United States from two key global organisations: the Paris Climate Accord and the World Health Organization (WHO). Both moves, described as priorities by the White House, signal a significant shift in the country’s engagement with international efforts on climate change and global health.

Exiting the Paris Climate Accord

Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord is aimed at dismantling what the White House has called the “climate extremism” of his predecessor, Joe Biden. The withdrawal process, which involves notifying the United Nations, will take effect after one year. This move marks Trump’s second attempt to leave the agreement, following his initial withdrawal during his first term, which was later reversed by Biden.

The Paris Climate Accord, established in 2015, seeks to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, ideally capping it at 1.5 degrees. Member nations commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through legally binding plans, but there are no penalties for failing to meet targets.

UN spokesperson Florencia Soto Niño emphasised the importance of US leadership in combating climate change, noting that the last decade has been the hottest on record and warning of the growing impacts of heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires. She urged collective action, stating, “We need to go much further and faster together.”

Trump has consistently criticised the agreement as a “disaster” and a “scam,” claiming it imposes unfair costs on the US while benefiting competitors. His administration also argues that the country’s significant oil production and consumption, as well as its greenhouse gas emissions—second only to China—make such commitments economically disadvantageous.

Withdrawing from the World Health Organization

Trump has also announced the US will leave the WHO, accusing the global health agency of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and yielding to political influences, particularly from China. The withdrawal, set to take effect in 12 months, will end the US’s financial contributions to the WHO, which amount to approximately 18% of its budget.

The WHO’s current budget for 2024-2025 stands at $6.8 billion, with the US as its largest financial backer. Trump criticised the WHO’s reliance on US funding while alleging that it had failed to act independently and allowed China to mislead the world about COVID’s origins.

The WHO denies these allegations, stating that it continues to urge Beijing to provide transparency regarding the pandemic’s origins. The withdrawal echoes Trump’s 2020 attempt to quit the organisation during his first term.