What Countries Are Not in the Paris Agreement?

By Robert Palmer

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2016 by 196 countries, is an international treaty aimed at keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. However, not all countries have joined the agreement for various reasons. In this article, we will take a closer look at the countries that are not part of the Paris Agreement.

United States

The United States, under the administration of former President Donald Trump, withdrew from the Paris Agreement on November 4, 2020. The decision was met with widespread criticism as the US is one of the world’s largest polluters and is responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions.

Iran

Iran has signed but not ratified the Paris Agreement. The country has claimed that it cannot meet its commitments due to economic sanctions imposed by other nations and has called for more assistance from developed nations.

Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan is one of the few countries in Central Asia that has not signed or ratified the Paris Agreement. The country’s president has stated that they are focusing on developing their economy through natural gas exports and do not have any plans to reduce emissions.

Eritrea

Eritrea is a small country located in Africa that has neither signed nor ratified the Paris Agreement. The reason for this is unclear as they have not made any public statements regarding their decision.

South Sudan

South Sudan became an independent nation in 2011 and has yet to formally join any international climate agreements, including the Paris Agreement. Due to political instability and ongoing conflict, environmental issues have taken a backseat.

Conclusion

While most countries have recognized the importance of addressing climate change by signing and ratifying the Paris Agreement, there are still some notable exceptions. The lack of participation from these nations highlights the need for continued global cooperation and action to combat the growing threat of climate change.