Countries are gathering for climate negotiations. Here's where the U.S. stands

"According to a White House statement to NPR, no high-level officials will attend COP30 breaking a long-standing tradition. During the previous Trump administration, U.S. delegates participated in the talks. Now, the administration has taken a stronger anti-climate stance, calling efforts to limit global warming a "hoax." "President Trump will not jeopardize our country's economic and national security to pursue vague climate goals that are killing other countries," says White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers."

"President Trump began to de-prioritize climate in January, when he withdrew the U.S. from the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement. In that accord, countries agreed to try to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), and ideally less than 1.5 C (2.7 F). The planet is currently on track to warm roughly 2.8 C (5 F) over preindustrial levels by 2100, according to a recent U.N. climate report."

"Climate experts worry that because the U.S. is setting an example, other countries might pull back on climate goals, too. If all U.S. climate efforts were discontinued, the U.N. report estimates, the planet could warm by an extra 0.1 C a small fraction of the total change to the planet, but a chunk that could still have significant real-life impacts."

Most nations are gathering in Belem, Brazil for COP30, a UN climate summit expected to last about two weeks. The U.S. will not play an active role and no high-level officials will attend, breaking a long-standing practice. The Trump administration has taken an anti-climate stance, withdrew from the 2015 Paris Agreement, and labeled efforts to limit warming a 'hoax.' The planet is on track to warm roughly 2.8°C by 2100 while the Paris accord sought to limit warming to 2°C, ideally 1.5°C. U.S. rollbacks to climate policy are hindering emissions reductions and communities' ability to cope with more extreme heat, wildfires, and floods. Experts warn U.S. disengagement could prompt other nations to reduce climate ambition and could add about 0.1°C to global warming.

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