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Ghana unhappy with US’ exit from Paris climate deal

Ghana has expressed its dissatisfaction with the United States’ decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, a move that has raised concerns about the future of global climate action.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Ghana’s Minister-designate for Foreign Affairs, shared the country’s disappointment during his appearance before the Appointments Committee on January 30, 2025.

“Let me register our unhappiness at the latest withdrawal by the United States of America from the Paris Climate Accord. That was a very key intervention in the climate change agenda. Ghana played a leading role under former President Mahama when he was president at the time,” Ablakwa said.

He pointed out that Ghana had been actively involved in the climate change discussions under the Mahama administration, and the US’s exit disrupts ongoing efforts to address the global climate crisis. However, he also assured that Ghana will continue to urge the US and other major countries to rejoin the climate action movement. “That has clearly created a disruption but we will continue to urge our big brothers and sisters to come back to the climate change agenda and to commit to a new global order to climate issues,” he added.

On January 27, 2025, President Donald Trump confirmed that the United States had formally notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Paris Accord. The withdrawal will take effect on January 27, 2026. This marks the second time the US has pulled out of the agreement, with Trump’s earlier decision during his first term to withdraw, despite the accord’s continued existence through global support.

The Paris Climate Agreement, established in 2015, is a legally binding framework for global climate action, with almost every country involved in efforts to limit global temperature rise and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement sets a target to limit global temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and ideally to 1.5°C.

While the US withdrawal presents challenges, the accord remains intact as other nations continue to honor their commitments. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which manages the Paris Agreement, will need to address financial gaps left by the absence of US contributions. Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic foundation has pledged to cover the shortfall, ensuring that vital climate initiatives continue.

The Paris Agreement’s goal is to guide all nations in reducing emissions and building resilience to the impacts of climate change. It includes provisions for financing developing countries’ climate mitigation and adaptation efforts and requires periodic reviews of each country’s progress. The agreement continues to be a vital tool for global climate cooperation as the world faces the urgent challenges of rising temperatures and environmental instability.

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