US President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from dozens of international organisations, including several key bodies involved in the global fight against climate change.
A total of 66 organisations were affected by the decision, nearly half of them linked to the United Nations. Among the most significant withdrawals is the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the treaty that forms the foundation of international efforts to curb global warming.
In a statement, the White House said the organisations no longer served American interests and accused them of promoting agendas that were “ineffective, hostile, or contrary to US sovereignty.”
The move follows Trump’s long-standing opposition to multilateral institutions and climate science. He has repeatedly dismissed the scientific consensus on man-made climate change, previously calling it a “hoax,” and has already cut funding to several international bodies during his presidency.
The decision was formalised in a memorandum signed on Wednesday after what the White House described as a review of organisations considered to be a “waste of taxpayer dollars.”
“These withdrawals will end American taxpayer funding and involvement in entities that advance globalist agendas over US priorities,” the statement said. It added that many of the groups supported “radical climate policies, global governance, and ideological programmes” that conflicted with US economic and national interests.
Also included on the withdrawal list was the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the UN’s leading scientific body responsible for assessing climate research and advising governments worldwide.
Beyond climate-related organisations, the decision affects UN agencies working in areas such as peace-building, democracy, family planning, maternal and child health, and addressing sexual violence in conflict zones.
Legal experts note that while the US Constitution outlines how treaties are entered into — requiring approval by two-thirds of the Senate — it does not clearly define the process for withdrawal. As a result, Trump’s decision could face legal challenges.
The move was strongly criticised by climate advocates and scientists. Rachel Cleetus, senior policy director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, described the decision as a “new low” for the administration.
Speaking to AFP, she said the withdrawal signalled an “anti-science” approach that prioritised ideology over public wellbeing and threatened global cooperation at a time of growing climate risk.
Last year, Trump also withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement — the world’s most significant climate pact — and declined to send an American delegation to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, further underscoring his administration’s rejection of international climate action.