Kofi Adu Domfeh: Trump snubs Paris climate deal the second time, Africa’s hurt?

As Donald Trump was sworn into office for a second term as the President of the United States, he has, for the second time, announced his intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change.

 

“I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris climate accord rip-off,” Trump said as he signed the executive order ahead of his inauguration. “The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity”.

 

Trump’s presidential orders include declaring an “Energy Emergency”, which could give the administration increased powers to approve production of both fossil fuels and, interestingly, critical green minerals, essential to the energy transition.

 

Though the withdrawal is immediate, it officially takes a year to kick in; and the order indicates the administration’s intent to limit participating, including cutting funding for climate mitigation and adaptation, and increasing production of fossil-fuels.

 

The US exit from the Paris Agreement means that America is withdrawing from a global pact aimed at mitigating climate change. The agreement, signed in 2015, brings almost 200 countries together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to well below 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial levels.

 

The US is the world’s second-largest greenhouse gas emitter behind only China. The exit means that America will no longer be bound by the agreement's requirements, such as submitting plans to reduce carbon emissions.

 

However, it's worth noting that the agreement has no enforcement mechanisms, so countries can't be punished for not meeting their targets.

 

Months after taking office for the first time in 2017, President Trump signed an order to withdraw from the pact, a move President Joe Biden promptly reversed on his first day in office in 2021.

 

While wildfires in Los Angeles serve as a reminder of the immediate impacts of the climate crisis, the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement highlights the continued challenges in global climate action.

 

As scientists call for drastic reductions in carbon emissions, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has already noted that the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement would undermine global efforts to halt climate change.

 

“The Paris agreement can survive, but people sometimes can lose important organs or lose the legs and survive. But we don’t want a crippled Paris agreement. We want a real Paris agreement,” Guterres told the Guardian. “It’s very important that the United States remain in the Paris Agreement, and more than remain in the Paris agreement, that the United States adopts the kind of policies that are necessary to make the 1.5 degrees still a realistic objective.”

 

Implications for Africa

 

Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, with many countries already experiencing severe droughts, floods, and heatwaves. The US exit may lead to reduced international support for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in Africa.

 

This could exacerbate the already devastating impacts of climate change on the continent, including food and water scarcity, displacement, and economic instability.

 

“The cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of action,” observed Dr. Joyce Kimutai, Climate Scientist at Imperial College London and Kenya Meteorological Department. “Vulnerable communities, who have contributed the least to this crisis, are bearing the heaviest burdens. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are eroding developmental gains and plunging countries further into debt. The longer we wait, the harder recovery will become, and the planet will face massive losses and damages.”

 

The US exit may also lead to a decrease in climate finance for Africa. The Paris Agreement aims to mobilize climate finance for developing countries, including those in Africa. Without US participation, it may be challenging to meet this goal, leaving African countries with limited resources to address climate change.

 

According to Faten Aggad, Executive Director of the African Future Policies Hub, “the world cannot afford to see the largest greenhouse gas emitter per capita and the second largest emitter globally disengage from an agreement that is already under significant strain.

 

“Truth be told: we need the US to act seriously. After all, it is responsible for 13.5% of global emissions - more than 4-fold Africa’s contribution as a full continent. This is the moment for a stronger leadership from industrialized economies, whose higher ambition is the only way forward to compensate for the USA’s failures.”

 

The US exit may also impact African economies that are transitioning to renewable energy. The Paris Agreement aims to promote the development and deployment of renewable energy technologies. Without US participation, African countries may face reduced access to technology, expertise, and funding for renewable energy projects.

 

All Hope Not Lost

 

Even without the US on board, some experts believe that the rest of the world will continue to move forward with climate action.

 

“This decision is a major setback at a time when the urgency of climate change calls for more concerted action, solidarity and greater ambition. Faced with this situation, we reaffirm our commitment to working for fair climate finance and inclusive solutions for the energy transition,” said Mouhamadou Sissoko, Secretary General Teranga Lab, Senegal.

 

According to Just Climate Policy Expert, Julius Mbatia, “the world has lived through this once, and greater multilateral cooperation holds a promise to handle it yet again.”

 

He added that “it's inconceivable that the US pulls out of the Paris Agreement and quench its strategic role in shaping the green and safe future that is in the making. This is not the leadership required at a moment when the majority of the people and States are mobilizing for climate action and issue unmatched commitment to tackling the climate crisis.”

 

The US exit from the Paris Agreement indeed poses significant setback for global climate action, and raises challenges for Africa, from reduced climate finance to decreased support for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

 

However, many countries, cities, and businesses remain committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the worst impacts of climate change.

 

“Trump attempting to sabotage global efforts to tackle the climate crisis, is a huge threat to our future. Africa, being one of the continents facing the impacts of the climate crisis, will not stop in the face of those who choose to risk everything for the profit of a privileged few,” said Fred Njehu, Pan-African Political Strategist for Greenpeace Africa.

 

Kofi Adu Domfeh is a journalist and climate reality leader; adomfeh@gmail.com

 

 

Kofi Adu Domfeh: Prayers for rain in LA and the call for climate action

People are praying for rain in Los Angeles, USA, due to California’ dry climate and the need for precipitation to sustain the environment, agriculture, and daily life.

 

Raging fires in the area have killed at least 25, reduced thousands of structures to ash and rubble, and displaced thousands. The fires are among the deadliest in California’s modern history.

 

Prayers for rain are a common practice in many faiths, seeking divine intervention to end droughts, replenish water sources, and bring relief to those affected by disasters.

 

In Los Angeles, prayers for rain are particularly relevant during the periods of heatwaves, when the lack of rainfall has exacerbated wildfires, impacted crop yields, and strained local water resources.

 

By praying for rain, individuals are not only seeking a practical solution to these challenges but also expressing their dependence on a higher power and their trust in its provision.

 

Though complex, there is a relationship between praying for rain in LA and climate change. Climate change has exacerbated droughts and water scarcity in California, making prayers for rain more pertinent.

 

Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and increased evaporation due to warmer temperatures have contributed to droughts in the region.

 

The prayers for rain can be seen as a response to climate-related stressors; a call for relief from drought's impacts and a recognition of human limitations in addressing climate change.

 

But there is the need not to divert attention from human actions contributing to climate change.

 

Ultimately, prayers for rain in LA reflect a desire for relief from climate-related challenges, while also highlighting the need for continued efforts to address the root causes of climate change.

 

The vulnerabilities of developing economies

Countries in Africa are currently experiencing varied weather conditions. In South Africa, there are warnings for veld fires in several regions due to high temperatures and dry conditions.

 

Temperatures are relatively mild in East Africa, but some areas like Mombasa, Kenya are experiencing warmer temperatures, reaching up to 81°F.

 

In West Africa, countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal are experiencing warm temperatures, ranging from 77°F to 91°F. For example, Lagos in Nigeria is at 82°F, while Kumasi in Ghana is currently at 91°F.

 

In Ghana, for instance, extreme weather events, like drought and flooding, are a significant concern. Though there is no such call for prayers as happening for LA, the impacts of the dry season are already telling.

 

Major fire incidents have been recorded in some major cities of the country in the first two weeks of 2025, and victims continue to count their losses.

 

Hot and dry conditions mean that if fires ignite, the chances of the blaze spreading are much higher and they are far harder to control.

 

Like other developing economies, Ghana is presently experiencing more frequent and severe droughts due to climate change, with serious impacts on agriculture, food security, and local livelihoods.

 

Ghana’s President, John Mahama, has observed “changes in climate conditions, increased population density in urban areas, and mass international travel are enabling existing viruses to spread and mutate at unprecedented rates”.

 

He believes “this is a serious issue”.

 

But Ghana’s climate change commitments have suffered the wanton destruction of forests and water bodies through unbridled illegal mining activities.

 

In 2020, Ghana faced direct economic losses from drought amounting to $95 million. Projections indicate that these losses could escalate to over $325 million annually by 2050 if climate and development actions are not taken.

 

The effects of droughts are far-reaching, from decreased crop yields and livestock productivity to increased competition for resources, social tensions, and violence. For instance, farmer-herder conflicts over arable land, water, and crop damage caused by trespassing livestock have led to destruction of property, armed robbery, and ethnic marginalization.

 

The effective implementation of the National Drought Plan will help achieve the goal of providing long-term solutions to land degradation problems and inform policymakers on drought situations.

 

Time for climate action

 

The realities of climate change stares in the face of people everywhere, but vulnerable people and communities are most at risk.

 

Scientists at the World Weather Attribution (WWA) found that climate-worsened disasters killed at least 3,700 people and displaced millions in 2024, a year to be remembered as being the first in recording more than 1.5C hotter than pre-industrial times.

 

The researchers said climate change had intensified 26 of the 29 weather events they studied during the year. They also found that people around the world experienced, on average, 41 extra days of dangerous heat in 2024 due to human-caused warming.

 

“The top resolution for 2025 must be transitioning away from fossil fuels, which will make the world a safer and more stable place,” said WWA’s lead Friederike Otto, a senior lecturer in climate science at Imperial College London.

 

According to him, the “unrelenting suffering” could be alleviated by halting the burning of coal, oil and gas, but instead use renewable energy to power economies, and adapt to climate impacts.

 

Perhaps the prayers for LA will be backed by climate action: real action to cut emissions from fossils, real action to commit to climate finance for vulnerable countries; real action for adaptation mechanisms to contain risky heat, devastating floods, rising sea levels and powerful storms.

 

Kofi Adu Domfeh is a Journalist and Climate Reality Leader. adomfeh@gmail.com