The United States will exit the Paris Climate Accord, and begin negotiations to reenter the current agreement or a new climate deal, President Trump said Thursday afternoon.
Trump said he wants the United States in a climate deal more favorable to the country, saying the Paris deal would have redistributed American wealth to other countries.
Shortly before Trump's press conference at the Rose Garden, the White House confirmed reports that Trump would withdraw from the agreement.
President Obama had signed the U.S. into the non-binding deal, which 195 countries reached in 2015 to reduce carbon emissions and reduce the effects of global warming.
As part of its commitments, the United States would have had to reduce emissions 26 to 28 percent by 2025.
The U.S. would also have had to provide aid to help developing countries achieve emissions cuts.
Trump pledged to get the U.S. out of the environmental deal during his White House run.
European leaders asked Trump to stay in the deal during his overseas trip last week.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday during Trump's announcement that he is signing an executive order "affirming New York's role in fighting climate change," saying the state is committed to meeting the Paris agreement's standards.
New York is committed to meeting the standards set forth in the Paris Accord regardless of Washington’s irresponsible actions. #ActOnClimate
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) June 1, 2017
In response to Trump's decision, Cuomo is joining state leaders on the West Coast to form a new climate coalition.
He will act as co-chair, alongside the governors of California and Washington State, for the new "United States Climate Alliance."
In a statement, Cuomo said the partnership will bring together states that are committed to upholding the Paris Climate Accord.
The alliance will also work to strengthen existing programs for the environment, and create new initiatives to reduce carbon emissions.
The governor called Trump's move to pull out of the Paris agreement irresponsible and reckless.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also slammed Trump's decision Thursday, creating a faux newspaper ad.
#BreakingNews on #ParisClimateAgreement pic.twitter.com/KS1Twn5Xb3
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 1, 2017
American corporate leaders, including Apple, Google, and Walmart, had appealed to the businessman-turned-president to stay in the pact.
Even fossil fuel companies such as Exxon Mobil, BP, and Shell said the United States should abide by the deal.
In a Berlin speech, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that fighting climate change is a "global consensus" and an "international responsibility."
"China in recent years has stayed true to its commitment," said Li, speaking in Berlin on Wednesday.
That fight has played out within the Trump administration. Trump met Wednesday with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who has favored remaining in the agreement.
Chief strategist Steve Bannon supports an exit, as does Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt.
Trump's chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn, has discussed the possibility of changing the U.S. carbon reduction targets instead of pulling out of the deal completely
Senior adviser Jared Kushner generally thinks the deal is bad but still would like to see if emissions targets can be changed.
Trump's influential daughter Ivanka Trump's preference was to stay, but she has made it a priority to establish a review process so her father would hear from all sides, said a senior administration official. Like the other officials, that person was not authorized to describe the private discussions by name and spoke only on condition of anonymity.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Wednesday in Alaska that he had "yet to read what the actual Paris Agreement is," and would have to read it before weighing in.
Scientists say Earth is likely to reach more dangerous levels of warming sooner if the U.S. retreats from its pledge because America contributes so much to rising temperatures.
Globally, 2016 was the hottest year on record. The previous hottest year on record was 2015.
16 of the 17 hottest years on record have been since 2000.
Temperatures in 2016 were 1.69 degrees above the 20th Century average.
Calculations suggest withdrawal could result in emissions of up to 3 billion tons of additional carbon dioxide in the air a year, which would be enough to melt ice sheets faster, raise seas higher, and trigger more extreme weather.
2016 was the third hottest year on record for the city, and the warmest since 1869.