United Nations: US withdrawal from climate treaty harms its economy
Simon Steel, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, issued a stark warning about the economic repercussions of the United States' decision to withdraw from the major climate treaty, stressing that this move would not only be an environmental setback, but would also represent a direct blow to the American economy and the future of jobs in the country.
Direct economic and social repercussions
In an official statement released today, Steele explained that withdrawing from international climate commitments would only harm the US economy in the long run. The UN official pointed out that ignoring climate change directly exacerbates natural disasters, with the United States and the world experiencing a significant increase in the frequency of devastating wildfires, massive floods, powerful storms, and severe droughts.
These disasters not only cause human losses, but also drain billions of dollars from the US Treasury annually to repair damaged infrastructure, lead to higher insurance costs, and threaten food supply chains, negatively impacting the living standards of American citizens.
Background of the agreements and the importance of the American role
These warnings come amid ongoing debate over the major powers' commitment to the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. The United States, as the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases and the world's largest economy, is a key player in the success or failure of these international efforts.
Historically, the US position on climate treaties has been erratic, with withdrawals creating uncertainty in global markets and weakening confidence in long-term international commitments, thus affecting the stability of cross-border investments.
The race for a green economy and missed opportunities
From a strategic economic perspective, experts believe that withdrawing from climate agreements could isolate the United States from the emerging global clean energy market. As China and the European Union race to develop renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, and advanced batteries, a US retreat from climate commitments could cause Washington to lose its competitive edge in these vital sectors, which will form the backbone of the global economy in the coming decades.
Therefore, adhering to the climate treaty is not a burden, but rather a catalyst for innovation and the creation of millions of new jobs in green technology sectors, which Steele warned would be lost if the withdrawal were insisted upon.
