The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) strongly disagrees with the decision this week to withdraw from several United Nations pacts and organizations, calling the move shortsighted and harmful to U.S. economic interests.  

“Today’s challenges require global collaboration,” said Elizabeth Beardsley, senior policy counsel. “Across the United States, businesses, NGOs, and state and local governments recognize the value of participating in international climate discussions as essential to protecting U.S. interests and building economic opportunity as the global economy transitions to address the threats of climate change.”  

“The global transformation to a clean economy is already underway and is massive in scale, akin to the industrial revolution,” Beardsley added. “Formally exiting the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) convention puts the U.S. on the outside looking in – damaging our standing as a world leader. This withdrawal runs counter to U.S. interests by preventing us from helping shape the international systems and norms that will drive investment, as well as protecting our economy and quality of life in the face of climate change.” 

The Trump administration issued a Presidential Memorandum on Wednesday directing the U.S. withdrawal from dozens of international organizations, including the UNFCCC under which the Paris climate agreement was formed, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which develops scientific consensus on climate change, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which advances biodiversity and nature-based solutions. 

Last year, the Administration submitted a letter of intent for the United States to leave the Paris climate agreement, as was done under the first Trump Administration. Withdrawal from the UNFCCC itself, however, is an unprecedented development. Every nation in the world is a party to the UNFCCC, which was adopted more than three decades ago and has since been supported by Democratic and Republican administrations. The U.S. Senate ratified the U.S. joining the UNFCCC in 1992 under President George H.W. Bush, and Congress has routinely funded participation. 

Among other things, removal of the U.S. from the IPCC would reduce our ability to contribute to the latest scientific understanding of climate change, including in developing solutions and supporting adaptation, as the United States faces increasing risks from climate change. 

USGBC will continue to participate in the UNFCCC processes, including the annual COP, as an accredited observer organization. Our work at the COP focuses on creating opportunities to leverage the built environment as a core climate solution and to foster cooperation among national and subnational governments and the private sector.   

Collaborating with members and leaders across the buildings industry, we are elevating buildings as a solution and demonstrating results. Here in the United States, with USGBC and the green building community leading the way, building efficiency has improved with emissions per square foot decreasing by 37% since 1990, creating jobs and saving money. With USGBC leadership, the Buildings Breakthrough initiative under the auspices of the UNFCCC is coalescing global industry and governments around low-carbon, resilient buildings.