Download
U.S. officially rejoins Paris climate agreement
Updated 22:44, 19-Feb-2021
CGTN
U.S. President Joe Biden signs an executive order during his first minutes in the Oval Office, January 20, 2021. /VCG

U.S. President Joe Biden signs an executive order during his first minutes in the Oval Office, January 20, 2021. /VCG

The United States has officially rejoined the landmark international accord to limit global warming known as the Paris Agreement on Friday.

On January 20, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order hours after he was sworn-in, beginning the 30-day process for the U.S. to reenter the global pact.

This Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the Paris Agreement an "unprecedented framework for global action."

"Now, as momentous as our joining the Agreement was in 2016 - and as momentous as our rejoining is today - what we do in the coming weeks, months, and years is even more important," Blinken said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Russia welcomed the U.S. government's return to the Paris Agreement, saying it is willing to engage in dialogue with the U.S. on climate change and hopes the U.S. won't politicize the issue.

The U.S. had officially exited the agreement late last year on former President Donald Trump's orders, becoming the first and only country to formally pull out of the deal since it was adopted in 2015. 

Read more: 

Biden pledges to rejoin Paris Agreement as world leaders set fresh climate goals

(With input from agencies)

Search Trends