Trump Dismantles US Ties to Global Climate Pact and UN Bodies Amid 'Sovereignty' Concerns

In a move that has sparked widespread criticism, US President Donald Trump has announced plans to withdraw the country from dozens of international and UN entities, including a landmark climate treaty and a UN body promoting women's empowerment. The drastic measure, outlined in a memo to senior administration officials, targets 35 non-UN groups and 31 UN entities, citing concerns over US national interests. Trump's decision, which comes as the US prepares to leave the Paris climate agreement, will see the country cease participation in and funding of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a key agreement underpinning global efforts to combat climate change. The move has been met with dismay from climate advocates, who argue that the US will be isolated in its decision to abandon the UNFCCC, leaving it without a seat at the table in crucial negotiations. The US will also pull out of UN Women, which works to promote gender equality and women's empowerment, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), a global agency focused on family planning, maternal and child health. This decision comes after the US cut its funding for the UNFPA last year. Critics argue that Trump's move reflects a broader disdain for multilateral institutions, which he has repeatedly criticized for failing to serve US interests. Since taking office, Trump has sought to slash US funding for the UN, halted US engagement with the UN Human Rights Council, and pulled out of UNESCO. The White House has justified the move as part of a review of international intergovernmental organizations, citing concerns over radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programs that conflict with US sovereignty and economic strength. Manish Bapna, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, warned that the US decision will leave it isolated in global climate negotiations, allowing other nations to shape massive economic policy and opportunity. "The United States would be the first country to walk away from the UNFCCC," Bapna said. "Every other nation is a member, in part because they recognize that even beyond the moral imperative of addressing climate change, having a seat at the table in those negotiations represents an ability to shape massive economic policy and opportunity.