UN Headquarters in New York. UN “regrets” US withdrawal from WHO and climate agreement Healthcare
On Tuesday, UN agencies commented on US President Donald Trump’s orders to end the United States’ membership in the World Health Organization (WHO) and to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. UN officials described the huge potential negative consequences of these decisions for public health and efforts to curb global warming.
“WHO regrets that the United States of America has announced its intention to withdraw from the organization […] We hope that the United States will reconsider its decision,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said hours after the newly elected US president signed the corresponding executive order at the White House.
The United States joined the WHO in 1948 after both houses of Congress passed a joint resolution. President Trump took steps to withdraw from the WHO in 2020 during his first term, but that decision was reversed by the Biden administration.
Responding to questions from reporters in Geneva, Jasarevic emphasized that the WHO “plays a key role in protecting the health of everyone on the planet, including Americans, by addressing the root causes of disease, building stronger health systems, and detecting, preventing, and responding to health emergencies, including in places where other services cannot reach.”
Asked about the implications of the US withdrawal from the WHO, Jasarevic noted that a full assessment of the situation requires analysis. He confirmed that the US was the WHO’s largest donor, providing 18 percent of the agency’s budget in 2023.
Also in Geneva, Jens Laerke, a spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stressed the importance of WHO, saying that “people are living longer, healthier and happier, and that’s largely thanks to WHO.”
“WHO is there where other organizations can’t go,” Laerke said, citing places like Gaza, Yemen, Afghanistan and Sudan. “It’s an indispensable part of the international humanitarian system,” he added.
Climate Shock
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) spokeswoman Clare Nullis on Tuesday commented on President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 Paris Agreement. According to her, this move returns the US administration to the policies of Trump’s first presidential term, which ended in January 2021.
The need for all countries to adhere to the agreement is clear, she noted, especially given that 2024 was “the hottest year on record,” about 1.55°C warmer than the pre-industrial era. “This is the defining challenge of our time,” Nullis emphasized.
The WMO representative recalled the recent devastating and deadly wildfires in Los Angeles, noting that the bulk of global economic losses from climate-related cataclysms and disasters fell on the United States.
“Since 1980, the country has experienced 403 weather and climate disasters, each of which resulted in damages of more than a billion dollars. The total cost of damage from 403 incidents exceeds $2.915 trillion, according to the U.S.,” Nullis said.
In response to questions from reporters on Monday, the UN press service said that “the transformation envisioned by the Paris Agreement has already begun,” and the renewable energy revolution offers opportunities for jobs and prosperity.
“The Secretary-General is confident that cities, states, and businesses in the United States and other countries will continue to show vision and leadership as they work toward low-carbon, sustainable economic growth that will create quality jobs and opportunities for prosperity in the 21st century,” the UN said. “It is critical that the United States remain a leader on environmental issues,” the press service added.