February 4, 2025 – The Africa Make Big Polluters Pay (MBPP) coalition condemns the unilateral decision of the Trump administration to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement highlighting its serious implications for global climatic justice.
The MBPP coalition believes this decision has undermined international cooperation and weakened the commitments aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions which the United States is also a victim of. An immediate reminder is the Los Angeles wildfires which experts link to intense weather conditions caused by climate change.
The withdrawal from the Paris Agreement also means that the United States no longer has to adhere to its historical financial and legal obligations, which are crucial to support climate action in vulnerable regions such as Africa and, by extension, the Global South.
The coalition views America’s presidential executive order as not only a betrayal of the historic global solidarity of 195 countries that united on a framework for collective accountability in addressing the climate crisis, but also one which portrays the US as an unreliable partner which has, sadly, abdicated its traditional leadership role.
Furthermore, this move by the Trump administration highlights a disturbing change in global climate governance that promotes a sense of injustice, in particular for the nations that contribute a minimum to climate change but suffer more for its effect, especially considering that these countries will have to rely on immediate liquidity and foreign climate financing to adapt to and mitigate the effects of environmental degradation. The loss of support from the United States means that many African states would have difficulty achieving their adaptation plans and nationally determined contributions. This refusal of the main polluters like the US to abide by the Paris Agreement will set a wrong precedent that will only reduce the justified quest for climate reparation.
We warn that Trump’s move, against the backdrop of the World Meteorological Organisation’s disclosure that 2024 was the warmest year on record, will not only undermine global efforts to combat climate change but will also lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, especially as the US is already the largest greenhouse gas emitter per capita in the world. It means Africa will continue to bear the economic and non-economic consequences of the crises It is not responsible for.
With the Global North responsible for 92% of global emissions, Trump’s decision to encourage oil extraction, sadly further weakens the Global South’s campaign to hold big polluters accountable for the devastation their extractive activities have caused humanity and the environment. His quest to address his country’s energy crises must not be at the expense of the world. Trump’s decision to encourage oil extraction, sadly further weakens the Global South’s campaign to hold big polluters accountable for the devastation their extractive activities have caused humanity and the environment. His quest to address his country’s energy crises must not be at the expense of the world.
America’s withdrawal is particularly ominous for Africa and the Global South, which are generally highly vulnerable to climate impacts, and could lead to restricted access to climate finance and a worsening of the environmental challenges including droughts, floods, and food insecurity.
The Africa MBPP partners remain committed to advocating for climate justice and equitable solutions that empower vulnerable communities while ensuring that our planet’s ecosystems are protected.
The Africa Make Big Polluters Pay Coalition, comprising 32 members from across the continent, is committed to holding polluting corporations accountable for their significant contributions to the climate crisis. Through our innovative MBPP Storytelling Platform, we illuminate the detrimental effects of transnational corporations’ extractive practices, challenge misleading and false narratives, and advocate for sustainable alternatives. Our mission is to humanise the climate crisis and inspire collective action. We firmly believe that industries such as agribusiness and fossil fuels must face financial and criminal accountability for the environmental damage they cause.
Join us in this critical movement for justice and a sustainable future!
