How the US could sabotage global climate goals
Illustrations by Alex Castro / The Verge
Governments face a deadline in early 2025 to update their national climate plans, 10 years after the adoption of the landmark Paris accord. Before that can happen, Americans will face a crucial decision on Election Day that will have consequences for the whole world.
If the US misses that deadline under a president who thinks this is no big deal, it could be a serious blow to global efforts to stop climate change. This isn’t about the US being the world’s savior. It’s about cleaning up after itself considering the planetary mess it’s made and continues to make.
What’s at stake? Only “debilitating impacts to people, planet and economies,” the latest United Nations report on greenhouse gas emissions released today tells us.