The United States, once a leader in climate action, has significantly retreated from global climate cooperation, particularly during the Trump administration, which included two withdrawals from the Paris Agreement.

In this context, fossil fuels have been re-emphasized in the U.S. as a strategy to lower domestic energy costs and boost industry, which undermines international climate commitments.

Additionally, the second Trump administration cut funding for climate science research and reinstated fossil fuel policies, stifling clean energy innovation.

Meanwhile, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported alarming trends in climate change, including record-high ocean heat, rising sea levels, and shrinking glaciers, with extreme weather events causing extensive damage in 2024.

Notably, 2024 has been recorded as the hottest year ever, with global surface temperatures soaring 1.55 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.

The WMO's findings also indicate that the critical 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold established by the Paris Agreement has already been surpassed, posing urgent risks to life and economies worldwide.

This concerning trend is further highlighted by the fact that every year in the last decade has ranked among the ten hottest on record.

As climate change increasingly intertwines with geopolitics, energy decisions have become vital to national security and political legitimacy.

In contrast to the U.S. retreat, China has stepped up as a new leader in climate action, making substantial investments in clean energy technologies and aiming for carbon neutrality by 2060.

While the European Union is making strides in climate policy, its efforts alone are insufficient to tackle the global challenges posed by climate change.

The author stresses the necessity for global cooperation and the fragility of multilateralism, warning that the U.S. must reclaim its credibility in climate leadership to effectively address the pressing climate crisis.

As the core goal of the Paris Agreement becomes increasingly unattainable, current warming estimates suggest a range between 1.34 and 1.41 degrees Celsius, with further fossil fuel growth risking long-term overshoot.