Argentina mulls Paris climate deal exit, following US withdrawal

Argentina's government, under President Javier Milei, is considering withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, following the United States' recent decision to exit the landmark accord.

While no final decision has been made, sources familiar with the discussions indicate that Argentina is likely to follow the US's lead, which would make it the second nation to leave the agreement, signed by nearly 200 countries, Caliber.Az reports referencing international media.

Officials are reviewing an internal memo advocating for Argentina's exit after the country pulled its negotiators from last year’s COP29 climate summit and signalled a reassessment of its environmental commitments. While some civil servants are working to dissuade the government from leaving, an Argentine diplomat stated that the decision ultimately rests with Milei, and it “seems very likely” that Argentina will withdraw.

If Argentina leaves, it would be a significant setback to global efforts to combat climate change, as the Paris Agreement aims to limit global temperature increases to well below 2°C, and ideally to 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels.

Milei, a libertarian leader who denies the human impact on climate change, has been vocal in his criticism of the global environmental movement. In a recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he accused the movement of distorting the environmental agenda, claiming that it has shifted from preserving the environment for humanity's benefit to a form of “fanatical environmentalism” that sees humans as a threat to nature.

The potential exit from the Paris Agreement would require congressional approval in Argentina, though Milei has bypassed Congress using emergency decrees in the past. The move could also complicate Argentina’s ongoing efforts to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an organization that emphasizes environmental policy standards for its members.

Furthermore, Argentina’s exit could jeopardize the EU-Mercosur trade agreement signed in December, as the deal includes provisions for suspension if any signatory withdraws from the Paris accord. A diplomat warned that Milei’s team may not fully grasp the potential consequences, including the loss of climate-related international financing and exclusion from future global carbon markets.

With the deadline for submitting updated climate plans under the Paris Agreement approaching next month, Argentina’s potential withdrawal would send a strong signal regarding its environmental stance on the world stage.

By Tamilla Hasanova