Having already pulled out of the Paris climate agreement in his first term, Mr. Trump has now doubled down on plans to end all U.S. commitments to fight climate change by reversing his predecessor Joe Biden’s actions. There is a serious question of real-world impact and damage to the existing order that is engendered by the U.S.’s impending plunge into pure isolationism. In the climate change, human rights, labour standards and rule of law contexts, the key financing channels and impactful leadership momentum have historically been associated with U.S. institutions. The world has already been witness, under both Trump administrations, to the deleterious, destabilising consequences of Washington weaponising trade tariffs as means to achieving political goals. History has shown that this gives free rein to the worst qualities of human nature, with disastrous socio-political consequences.

Source: The Hindu January 12, 2026 04:48 UTC