The scene unfolds: On day one of his second term, President Donald Trump, once again, signs an executive order to pull the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement.
As he signs, cheers echo from the crowd. The U.S., they say, will save trillions of dollars.
It’s surreal, almost more so than when he first declared, "Drill, baby, drill," in his inaugural speech.
"I've always said this, and I’m doing it again." Trump had campaigned on it, and now, once re-elected, he delivers on that promise to withdraw from the climate pact.
Back in 2017, this move sent shockwaves through the global community. But four years later, the climate community in the U.S. has learned to adapt—to expect it. So now, as this moment becomes history, how prepared are the experts and advocates? What’s next for American role in global climate action?
And, crucially, how will this shift impact the collaboration between the U.S. and China on climate change?
To explore this, I sat down with Melissa Barbanell, Director of U.S.-International Engagement at the World Resources Institute. She leads high-level dialogues on climate and energy with U.S. non-governmental leaders and their counterparts in China, India, and the EU.
As we look to the future, one thing remains clear: climate change doesn’t pause for politics. Whether it’s Trump, Biden, or anyone else, the planet continues to warm. In the end, it’s not the decisions of one man, or even one nation, that will define our climate future—it’s the collective action we choose to take, or not take, as a global community.
So, the question isn’t just what will the U.S. do next. It’s: what will we all do next?
The clock is ticking. And it doesn’t care who’s in the White House.
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