Donald Trump: US to withdraw from WHO and Paris Climate Accord

American President Donald Trump on the first day of his office signed several Executive Orders to implement his election promise of America first. The Executive Order signed on 20 January 2025 includes several controversial issues and reverses the previous Joe Biden administration decisions.

The order includes the American withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Paris Climate Change Agreement 2015, ending automatic citizenship rights for foreign parent's children born in the USA.

The order also includes a declaration of state of emergency along the Mexican border to curb illegal migrants seeking asylum in the USA by crossing the Mexican border to the USA.

The withdrawal of the US from the international agreements will take place after 12 months after the signing of the President’s Executive Orders.

Withdrawal From WHO 

Donald Trump In his first term as President in 2020, had ordered the American withdrawal from the WHO due to its mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic. But before the process could be completed he was replaced as the American President by Joe Biden.

In his second term as President Donald Trump again signed an order for withdrawal from the WHO.

Reason for withdrawal

• The mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises by the WHO.
• In an apparent reference to China, the Trump administration accused the  WHO of failing to act independently from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.
• Contribution made by the United States government is unfairly onerous as compared to countries like China.

Contribution to the WHO 

All the 194 member countries of the WHO are mandated to contribute to the WHO. The size of the contribution depends on the size of the country’s economy and the member countries can contribute above their mandatory contribution voluntarily.

The WHO also accepts donations from non-governmental organisations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations etc.

• The United States of America is the largest contributor to the WHO contributing around 18% of its overall funding of the WHO.
• After the United States, the largest contributor to WHO is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, though it funds the polio eradication program of the WHO.
• The next-largest state donor in terms of combined mandatory and voluntary contributions is Germany.
• India is the 18th largest contributor country of the WHO.

Impact of the United States Move 

• It will financially weaken the WHO affecting its major health program especially in tuberculosis, as well as HIV/AIDS and other health emergencies, across the world.

Withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement 2015

Donald Trump also signed an order for the withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement which came into effect in 2016. The US will now join Iran, Yemen, and Libya as the only countries to currently stand outside the agreement.

This is the second time that Trump has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement.

In 2017, Donald Trump withdrew the United States of America from the Paris Agreement but when Joe Biden became the President of America the United States rejoined it in February 2021.

About Paris Agreement 

• The Paris Agreement is a legally binding agreement that seeks to limit greenhouse gas emissions from member countries to prevent climate change. 
• It also seeks to limit the rise in global temperature from more than two degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrialisation levels.
• China is the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world followed by the United States and India.

Reason for Withdrawal

• Donald Trump plans to increase the use of fossil fuels in the country to produce cheap electricity in the country and boost economic growth.
• The  United States has sizable reserves of oil and gas and the Trump administration aims to export the oil and gas.

Halt on Foreign Aid 

• President Trump also ordered a halt on all aid provided by the American government  to foreign governments and organisations for the next 90 days.
• He said that the government will review whether the aid serves the American national interests or not.
• He also said that US foreign aid had served to “destabilize world peace by promoting ideas in foreign countries that do not further harmonious and stable relations within the country and  among the countries.”

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