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Consider This from NPR

The world commits to new climate goals without the U.S.

Consider This from NPR

NPR

Society & Culture, News, Daily News, News Commentary

4.15.3K Ratings

🗓️ 28 September 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

More than a hundred countries have committed to fresh plans to curb pollution, with one big holdout: the U.S.


NPR's Andrew Limbong speaks with the EU Commissioner for Climate, Wopke Hoekstra, about how global leaders are moving forward on climate goals with the U.S. on the sidelines.

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This episode was produced by Daniel Ofman. It was edited by Sarah Robbins. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

When the Paris Climate Agreement was signed, although it was fraught with controversy, it was

0:04.9

seen as a diplomatic achievement and a step in the right direction in the global effort to

0:10.4

counter climate change.

0:11.5

I now declare the Paris Agreement for Climate Change open for signature.

0:18.5

Famously, John Kerry, who was U.S. Secretary of State at the time, held his granddaughter

0:23.5

on his lap while signing the agreement and later addressed the General Assembly.

0:27.6

We will do our part. We will live up to our responsibility to future generations.

0:33.4

And together, citizens of the world, we will work to save our planet from ourselves.

0:40.2

In the years since, the implementation of the agreement hasn't gone smoothly,

0:44.4

especially among some of the countries that are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.

0:49.2

In June of 2017, during his first term in office, President Trump made this announcement in front of the White

0:55.2

House.

0:55.5

The United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.

1:05.7

And this past week, President Trump reiterated his stand against climate action.

1:10.6

Here he is at the UN General Assembly.

1:12.8

And I'm telling you that if you don't get away from the green energy scam, your country is going to fail.

1:20.6

Consider this.

1:21.5

What can other global leaders do when the U.S. is actively opposed, even hostile to climate action.

1:42.8

Hey, it's Rachel Martin.

1:43.9

I'm the host of Wildcard from NPR. For a lot of my years ago, Hey, it's Rachel Martin.

1:46.1

I'm the host of Wildcard from NPR.

1:51.3

For a lot of my years as a radio host, silence sort of made me nervous.

...

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