Paris climate agreement faces challenges as U.S. prepares to withdraw

The Paris climate agreement, established in 2015, is a voluntary pact aimed at reducing global warming. The U.S. is set to withdraw, joining Iran, Libya, and Yemen as the only UN countries not part of the agreement. The pact requires countries to submit emissions reduction plans every five years, but there are no penalties for failing to meet targets. The U.S. aims to cut emissions by two-thirds by 2035, but its historical contributions to climate aid have been criticized. While the agreement has not fully prevented global temperature increases, it has led to some progress. Current projections suggest a potential rise of 2.7 degrees Celsius, down from earlier estimates of 3.6 degrees.