In a historic move, the United States officially rejoined the Paris Agreement on February 19, 2021, signaling the country`s renewed commitment to global climate efforts. The decision came just days after President Joe Biden took office, with the reversal of the previous administration`s decision to withdraw from the agreement.

The Paris Agreement, which was adopted in 2015, is an international pledge to limit global warming to below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. It involves nearly 200 nations, with each country setting its own targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, which are largely responsible for climate change.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced the country`s withdrawal from the agreement in 2017, citing concerns about the impact on American jobs and businesses. However, the move was widely criticized both domestically and internationally, with many arguing that it represented a major setback for global climate efforts.

During his election campaign, President Biden promised to rejoin the Paris Agreement on his first day in office, and he followed through on that pledge. In a statement, he emphasized the urgent need for action on climate change, describing it as an “existential threat” to the planet.

The United States now faces the challenge of catching up with the climate goals set by other countries over the past four years. While the country had initially pledged to cut emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, it has fallen behind in recent years and is currently on track for a reduction of just 17%.

By rejoining the Paris Agreement, the United States has taken an important step towards addressing the climate crisis. However, much work remains to be done to meet the ambitious targets set by the agreement, and there is a growing urgency to act quickly and decisively to avoid the worst effects of climate change.