MEDIA STATEMENT

The U.S. Officially Re-enters the Paris Climate Agreement

WASHINGTON, DC (19 February 2021) — Today marks the U.S.’s official reinstatement into the Paris Climate Agreement, which President Biden rejoined hours after his inauguration on January 20, 2021. As the U.S rejoins the world in this historic climate accord, the Campaign for Nature has issued the following statement:

Enric Sala, Explorer in Residence, National Geographic and the author of the award winning book The Nature of Nature, Why We Need the Wild. @enric_sala

“Today marks a new beginning for the U.S. It is an opportunity to reset its ambitions and to reestablish its leadership on the global stage in combating climate change. This move, along with the Biden administration’s signal to set the United States on a path to conserve 30% of the U.S – land and at sea – by 2030 (30x30), demonstrates that the country is prepared to lead on the two largest crises facing our planet.”

“Humanity is facing the unprecedented dual crises of rapid climate change and the wide-scale destruction of nature. These crises are interconnected and must be tackled together with transformative, global action on an ambitious scale unlike any other we’ve seen. We will need all countries working together and pooling our collective resources to achieve a positive, sustainable future for ourselves and our planet.

“Re-entering the Paris Climate Agreement is a crucial milestone confirming the U.S.’s commitment to global collaboration on the ever-growing threat of climate change. The U.S. is poised to now take the next step by elevating their commitment in adopting 30x30 at the global level and therefore agreeing to fundamentally tackling the nature crisis on a global scale as well.”

Brian O’Donnell, Director, Campaign for Nature

"This is a significant day for the U.S. and the world as President Biden has officially returned the U.S. to the forefront of the global climate stage. Effectively confronting climate change will also require concerted action on the intertwined crisis of global biodiversity loss. The Biden Administration must treat the climate and nature crises as one planetary emergency. Nature and wildlife habitat play a major function in regulating climate, as carbon sinks, as well as enhancing adaptation and resilience to climate change.” 

“President Biden has set a goal of protecting at least 30% of the lands and waters in the United States by 2030 and has committed to helping conserve the Amazon rainforest and other critical ecosystems. The Biden Administration must build on the momentum from rejoining the Paris Agreement and develop a comprehensive strategy to conserve biodiversity to secure a healthy planet for all.”  

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The Campaign for Nature works with scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and a growing coalition of over 100 conservation organizations around the world who are calling on policymakers to commit to clear and ambitious targets to be agreed upon at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China in 2021 to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 and working with Indigenous leaders to ensure full respect for Indigenous rights.