The Paris Agreement: Should the U.S. Stay or Should It Go?

A statement by the World Resources Institute arguing that the United States should remain in the Paris Agreement to protect its economic, security, and diplomatic interests, noting strong public and business support for the accord.

• Remaining in the Paris Agreement is presented as essential for U.S. strategic interests and diplomacy. With 194 signatories, including the European Union, China, and India, withdrawal would isolate the U.S. and reduce its leverage on security and trade issues, potentially undercutting foreign policy priorities at the G7 and G20 meetings.
• The Paris Agreement is viewed as a driver for U.S. business and investment. Over 600 companies and investors, including major energy firms such as BP, ExxonMobil, Total, ConocoPhilips, and Royal Dutch Shell, have advocated for staying in the agreement. The IFC estimates that national commitments under the agreement represent a $23 trillion investment opportunity by 2030.
• Clean energy employment in the U.S. is growing faster than fossil fuel employment. In 2016, the renewable energy sector employed approximately 800,000 Americans, compared to 160,000 in the coal sector. Between 2015 and 2016, wind employment increased by 32 percent and the solar workforce grew by 25 percent.
• Staying in the agreement allows the U.S. to maintain influence over the development of the agreement's rulebook and ensure transparency and accountability from other nations. Withdrawal would result in a loss of leverage regarding these key issues.
• Public opinion in the U.S. strongly favors participation in the Paris Agreement. Approximately 71 percent of Americans support staying in the agreement, and a Pew Research poll indicates 65 percent prioritize alternative energy over fossil fuels, a figure that rises to 75 percent for those aged 18-49.

APA

World Resources Institute (2017). The Paris Agreement: Should the U.S. Stay or Should It Go? https://www.wri.org/insights/paris-agreement-should-us-stay-or-should-it-go

Chicago

World Resources Institute. The Paris Agreement: Should the U.S. Stay or Should It Go? 2017. https://www.wri.org/insights/paris-agreement-should-us-stay-or-should-it-go.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=World Resources Institute |title=The Paris Agreement: Should the U.S. Stay or Should It Go? |date=17 April 2017 |url=https://www.wri.org/insights/paris-agreement-should-us-stay-or-should-it-go |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{worldresourcesinstitute2017paris, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{The Paris Agreement: Should the U.S. Stay or Should It Go?}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2017}, month = apr, url = {https://www.wri.org/insights/paris-agreement-should-us-stay-or-should-it-go}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }