Despite the fact that the decision of the Government of the United States was made three years ago, until November 4, 2020, in the middle of the electoral count, the North American country has not been able to officially exit the global agreement.
The Paris Agreement was designed in such a way that member countries could not abandon it, nor evade their responsibilities within it, until three years after its ratification. Although the historic summit took place in the French capital at the end of 2015, the Agreement was not ratified until November 4, 2016.
The United Nations also stated that a full year had to pass from the official notification until the official departure. A year during which the outgoing country should meet its obligations to the international community. That is why, coincidentally or not, the date of departure from any country was one day after the United States elections. The US formally presented on November 4, 2019 its willingness to leave the agreement. Now, a year later, they are out. The electoral count will tell us if the departure is for a couple of days or for at least 5 more years.
According to reported data the American giant is the second country that emits the most greenhouse gases (more than 14% of the total). It is the first country that has historically issued the most. In addition, far from reducing its emissions, these in 2018 had increased by 4% compared to the base year 1990. Also, the American nation is the thirteenth economy with the most per capita emissions in the world (16.14 tons of CO2 per person per year). . As of tomorrow, you do not have to count your emissions to show them to the United Nations. Nor does it have to set reduction targets for 2030 and 2050 like other countries, nor indicate when its economy will be carbon neutral.
Despite the deficiencies that the Paris Agreement has to achieve the objectives established by science, if this agreement is of any use, it is to get countries to apply pressure multilaterally and on a global scale. It is around this agreement where the different countries put their economies on the table and face the critical gaze of the world and other nations. Today the US is out of the agreement, but despite the fact that it does not show its data, the world continues to watch and with an even more critical look.