US set to exit UN climate convention in February 2027

Climate Change News

by Matteo Civillini

March 4, 2026

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The United States is set to become the first country to officially withdraw from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a landmark treaty established in 1992 during the Rio Earth Summit. The Trump administration formally notified the United Nations of its decision to leave, with the withdrawal taking effect on February 27, 2027, as per the terms of the convention. This move marks a significant blow to global climate cooperation, as the US, the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, will no longer be obligated to comply with key international climate agreements. The decision reflects President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to disengage from international organizations he deems counter to U.S. interests. In January 2017, Trump announced plans to leave the UNFCCC and other international bodies, citing concerns over American sovereignty and taxpayer dollars spent on “ineffective” global agendas. While the US had already withdrawn from the Paris Agreement in 2020 under Trump’s leadership, its formal departure from the UNFCCC will absolve it of obligations such as submitting detailed emissions data and funding the convention. The US has already stopped contributing financially to the UNFCCC and failed to report its greenhouse gas emissions last year. Critics argue that this decision is a “colossal own goal” for the U.S., as it undermines efforts to address climate change, which increasingly impacts global stability and economies. Simon Stiell, head of the UNFCCC, warned that disengaging from international climate cooperation will harm the US economy, jobs, and quality of life, particularly as extreme weather events like wildfires and floods intensify. Meanwhile, the

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Originally published on Climate Change News on 3/4/2026