US President Donald Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from dozens of international organisations. Many of these bodies work on climate change and environmental protection. Nearly half of the 66 affected organisations belong to the United Nations system. The list includes the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which forms the backbone of global climate cooperation.
The decision also targets organisations focused on development, gender equality, and conflict prevention. The administration has repeatedly criticised these areas as ideological or globalist. The White House said the organisations no longer serve American interests and promote ineffective or hostile agendas.
White House Defends Withdrawals as National Interest Move
Trump signed the withdrawal memorandum on Wednesday after an internal review. The White House described the organisations as a waste of taxpayer money. Officials said the decision would end US funding and participation in groups prioritising global agendas over national priorities.
The administration said many organisations promote radical climate policies. It added that international governance efforts undermine US sovereignty and economic strength.
Climate Science Faces Uncertainty
The United States has also exited the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The panel produces the world’s most influential climate science reports. Governments rely on its findings to track rising global temperatures.
Sources inside the panel warned that the withdrawal could disrupt ongoing research. They said reduced US involvement threatens contributions from American scientists. The administration has already blocked US researchers from attending a meeting in China.
Restrictions on participation could delay upcoming reports. The mitigation report, a key guide for governments, faces a serious risk of postponement.
Energy and Security Cooperation Impacted
The withdrawal goes beyond UN-linked organisations. Several independent international bodies also lost US membership. These groups focus on clean energy cooperation and democratic governance. They include the International Solar Alliance and the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum.
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance also appears on the list. Trump has previously cut funding from multilateral organisations he opposes. He has repeatedly dismissed the scientific consensus on human-driven climate change.
Legal Questions Surround Treaty Exit
The United States must wait one year to fully leave the climate convention. In practice, the country reduced meaningful participation years ago. Campaigners are now urging legal challenges in US courts.
The US constitution explains how presidents enter treaties. It does not specify how withdrawals should occur. Legal experts say this leaves uncertainty for future administrations.
International Leaders Criticise US Withdrawal
The move follows a second withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement last year. The administration also declined to send a delegation to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil. The United States has already left the World Health Organization and several other UN bodies.
European leaders criticised the decision and warned it would weaken global cooperation. EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra called the move regrettable. EU vice-president Teresa Ribera said the administration ignored environmental and human concerns.
A representative from the Union of Concerned Scientists called the step a new low. Policy director Rachel Cleetus said the administration continues to undermine public wellbeing and global stability.
