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Argentina's Potential Exit from Paris Climate Agreement Raises Concerns

There is increasing anxiety that Argentina’s far-right president, Javier Milei, may announce the country's departure from the Paris climate accord. Milei, a well-known climate science denier, had previously promised to withdraw Argentina from the agreement during his campaign but later backtracked. Now, following a recent COP29 summit where Argentina’s negotiators were ordered to leave early, there are reports suggesting that Milei could formally announce the withdrawal after meeting Donald Trump.

Milei's Climate Stance and Meeting with Trump

Milei, who has called the climate crisis a "socialist lie," is scheduled to meet Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. This marks the first such meeting between Milei and Trump after the latter's election. Milei, who is also attending a Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) event organized by Trump, has expressed admiration for the US president-elect and his stance on climate issues.

Trump, who previously withdrew the US from the Paris accord in 2017, is expected to again seek a US exit from the climate agreement once sworn in as president in January 2025. His allies are pushing for a permanent US exit, potentially dismantling the United Nations climate framework.

Argentina's Domestic Opposition

If Milei moves forward with withdrawing Argentina from the Paris accord, he would face strong domestic opposition. Oscar Soria, director of the Common Initiative think tank, criticized Milei's environmental policy as being driven by "ideological biases" and "misinformation," which he believes could harm Argentinians' well-being. Argentina's foreign minister, Gerardo Werthein, confirmed that the country is "re-evaluating" its climate strategy.

Milei's decision would require approval from the Argentine parliament, as the Paris agreement was ratified in 2016 and holds constitutional status in Argentina. This legal hurdle would make it difficult for Milei to exit the agreement unilaterally.

Global Climate Action and Challenges

While concerns grow over Argentina's potential withdrawal, observers stress that global climate action will continue, with or without Argentina. Similar to the United States' experience in 2017, when Trump initially pulled the US from the agreement, climate efforts are expected to persist even if some nations, including Argentina, decide to retreat.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, is also expected to meet Milei in Buenos Aires before the upcoming G20 summit in Brazil, as tensions rise between the EU and South America over a potential trade deal with the Mercosur bloc.

In conclusion, while Milei's possible exit from the Paris agreement is sparking concern, the global commitment to addressing climate change remains strong, with many believing that Argentina's departure would not derail international efforts to limit global warming.