US formally exits international agreement aimed at curbing climate change

THE US has formally left the Paris Agreement, a global pact forged five years ago to avert the threat of catastrophic climate change.

The move, long threatened by Donald Trump and triggered by his administration a year ago, further isolates the US in the world but has no immediate impact on international efforts to curb global warming.

Some 189 countries remain committed to the 2015 Paris accord, which aims to keep the increase in average temperatures worldwide “well below” 2°C, ideally no more than 1.5°C. A further six countries have signed but not ratified the pact.

Scientists say any rise beyond 2°C could have a devastating impact on large parts of the world, raising sea levels, stoking tropical storms and worsening droughts and floods.

The Paris accord requires countries to set their own voluntary targets for reducing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and accurately report on their efforts.

The US is the world’s second-biggest emitter, after China, of heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide.

In recent weeks, China, Japan and South Korea have joined the European Union and several other countries in setting deadlines to stop pumping more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Democrat Joe Biden has said he favours signing the US back up to the Paris accord.

While the Trump administration has shunned federal measures to cut emissions, German government spokesman Steffen Seibert noted that US states, cities and businesses have pressed ahead with their own efforts.