The flurry of executive orders President Trump signed on the first day of his second term included stopping climate change action. After his inauguration, he signed an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement.
The U.S. is the world’s largest economy and is now in second place for current emissions, with China first and India third. However, the U.S. is responsible for the largest share of historical emissions. Since emissions from the past still affect the planet, historical cumulative totals matter.
The U.S. has emitted 20 percent of the world’s total emissions since 1850, with China responsible for 11 percent, as of 2021. Two years later, the U.S. emitted an estimated cumulative total of 432 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂) from industry and fossil fuels, accounting for roughly one quarter of historical global emissions since the Industrial Revolution started. As of 2025, the U.S. emitted 24 percent of global historical emissions.
According to the World Resources Institute, “The world cannot successfully fight climate change without significant action from the top 10 emitters.”
Climate Action Continues Without the Federal Government
Despite Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, emissions reduction will continue. “A lot of the decisions that affect global warming pollution emissions are not down to what the federal government in the US does,” said Al Gore at the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Annual Meeting. Gore also declared that climate action momentum is “unstoppable.”
Gore explained that the fossil fuel section contains three markets: electricity generation, transportation, and petrochemicals (75 percent are plastics). Renewable energy accounted for over 40 percent of global electricity generation in 2024, with renewables accounting for 90 percent of new U.S. generation. Global EV sales increased by 25 percent in 2024 and 7.9 percent in the U.S. In 2024, 79 percent of Americans thought brands should do more to reduce plastic pollution.
“So I think the die is cast; the writing is on the wall. We’re going to make this transition, and we’re going to solve the climate crisis. The remaining question, however, is how quickly will we do it?” Al Gore
Cities, States, and Businesses Lead Climate Action In the U.S.
Cities, states, and businesses continue taking climate change action while the Trump administration sleeps on the issue. After the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Agreement for the second time in eight years, the America Is All In Coalition began to mobilize thousands of entities across the U.S. More than 5,000 entities, including cities, states, tribal nations, businesses, schools, and institutions of faith, health, and culture, continue to take action.
In 2017, the governors of three states (Washington, New York, and California) established the
U.S. Climate Alliance to work towards net-zero emissions. It now includes a bipartisan coalition of 24 governors, representing around 55 percent of the U.S. population and 60 percent of the economy. “States, cities, businesses, and citizens have proven they can—and will—step up when federal leadership fails.” Center for American Progress
Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia require utilities to obtain a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. Some states have standards that require utilities to generate 100 percent renewable energy by a future date. California is one of them. In 2018, the Golden State enacted a standard for the state to generate 100 percent renewable electricity by 2045. By 2030, 60 percent of electricity in the state must come from renewables.
There is no sugar-coating the damage the Trump Administration’s attack on climate action, renewable energy, and environmental stewardship. But his assault inspires a redoubling of effort in an increasingly burning world.
There is no sugar-coating the damage the Trump Administration’s attack on climate action, renewable energy, and environmental stewardship. But his assault inspires a redoubling of effort in an increasingly burning world.
