President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from 66 international organizations, including 12 dedicated to energy, renewable energy, climate change and environmental causes. This prolific exit comes after the administration initiated an investigation into participating international organizations in February 2025.
The United States will discontinue funding or engaging with the the United Nations organizations named in a presidential memorandum published on Wednesday. This includes the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an organization founded in 1992, and one that the United States had participated in shortly after its founding. The United States joined the UNFCCC during former Republican President George H.W. Bush’s term.
Other non-UN organizations the United States will no longer support include the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Solar Alliance and the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21).
“Renewable energy is the strongest economic choice countries, subnational governments, cities and citizens can make today,” said Rana Adib, executive director of REN21, in a press release. “It is the best option for energy security, the smartest investment for long-term prosperity, and a critical foundation for protecting nature. The shift to renewables is happening globally; it is no longer optional or reversible. It is happening because it makes economic sense and because societies need reliable, affordable energy in a changing world.”
Trump initially withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international initiative started in 2015 that made participating countries legally-obligated to limit factors contributing to climate change, in 2020. Former President Joe Biden reversed this when taking office in 2021. But in his second term, Trump again withdrew the United States from the the Paris Agreement.
“Many of these bodies promote radical climate policies, global governance and ideological programs that conflict with U.S. sovereignty and economic strength,” Trump stated in a White House fact sheet.
He indicated in the memorandum that the administration is still considering further withdrawals from international organizations.
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