Photo by: Francois Mori

To start, it is important to explain the Paris Climate Agreement. Put simply, the Paris Climate Agreement is an agreement that was made in December of 2015 to reduce emissions and combat climate change. The long term goal of this agreement is to limit the temperature increase to no more than 1.5 degrees celsius while simultaneously helping prepare countries for the disastrous effects of climate change. So far 195 countries have adopted the Paris Climate agreement, including the United States. So far only two countries are ahead of their climate goals and the United States is definitely not one of them. 

The two countries most on track to reducing their emissions and fulfilling the Paris Agreement are not who you would think. Currently, Morocco and The Gambia are the only countries predicted to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Morocco holds the spot as number one due to their ambitious climate strategy. By 2030 the country is on course to have more than 50% of its electricity produced from renewable energy and by 2050 coal energy entirely phased out. The Gambia is second for similar reasons. As a developing country The Gambia is an exemplar in the fight for climate change. Like Morocco the country is adopting renewable energy (mostly solar) on a large scale. Additionally, The Gambia is reversing the effects of climate change with massive afforestation projects. So why is it that two small African countries (one of them still developing) are massively out performing the United States in their climate goals?

Well, because of recent policy changes. As of 2019 the United States ranks as one of the lowest countries on course for fulfilling the Paris Agreement. In fact, every western country is ahead of the US as well as many developing countries such as: India, Philippines, Ethiopia, and Bhutan. This is a result of policy changes and rollbacks of the Trump administration. For example, Trump’s new replacement for the Clean Power Plan does not enforce regulations to limit Hydrofluorocarbon emissions (a harmful greenhouse gas) and puts limited focus on vehicle efficiency standards. Under the US’s current administration the economy is seen as far more important than the environment leaving people to believe the US should leave and stop focusing on the Paris Agreement. This economy over climate encouragement from the US government is the same force halting the Green New Deal (a deal designed to reduced greenhouse gases to net 0) and allowing for lax regulations on methane leaks from oil.

How other countries and individuals view the United States in the fight for climate change is critical. The US has long been a leading power in the world. Its economy is widespread and deeply rooted and its military serves as a defense for over 67 countries. Other countries depend on the US but also look up to the US; its reputation in the battle for climate change transcends US borders. In the climate crisis of today it is crucial that the US take environmental matters seriously. If the US can step up and put forward policies that protect the environment rather than the economy, the world would view them differently. As a top influential country in the world it is the duty of the United States to lead the world in environmental protection and set a precedent for all countries.