Trump withdraws U.S. from 66 international organizations and treaties, including major climate groups

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President Trump on Wednesday withdrew the United States from 66 international organizations and treaties, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.In a presidential memorandum, Trump said it is “contrary to the interests of the United States to remain a member of, participate in, or otherwise provide support to” the organizations, which also include groups geared toward education, economic development, cybersecurity and human rights issues, among others.He directed all executive departments and agencies to take steps to “effectuate the withdrawal” of the U.S.

from the organizations as soon as possible.While the president has already announced a withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement — an international treaty to limit global warming to under 2 degrees Celsius in order to prevent the worst effects of climate change — the latest move will further isolate the nation at a critical moment, experts said.The U.N.

Framework Convention on Climate Change is a global treaty created in 1992 and signed by nearly 200 countries with the aim of addressing climate change through coordinated international action, including limiting planet-warming greenhouse gases.Trump already raised eyebrows last year by refusing to attend or send any high-level delegates to the annual U.N.

Conferences of the Parties meeting in Brazil, where Gov.Gavin Newsom instead took on a starring role.

Withdrawing from the U.N.Framework Convention is a “shortsighted, embarrassing, and foolish decision,” Gina McCarthy, a former director of the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, said in a statement.“As the only country in the world not a part of the UNFCCC treaty, the Trump administration is throwing away decades of U.S.

climate change leadership and global collaboration,” said McCarthy, who also served as the first W...