New Era of US Climate Policy

US and Climate: From the UNFCCC to Endangerment Finding

The Trump Administration is rolling out official policies stepping away from international collaboration and domestic efforts to combat climate change. This unprecedented action raises many legal questions.

International collaboration: The US withdrawal from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was formalized on Friday. The US will officially be out of the treaty as of February 27, 2027.

Presidential authority: There are legal questions circling within the US on whether a president is allowed to pull the country out of an international treaty that was approved by two-thirds of the Senate.

States take up the call post-Endangerment Finding: In response to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rulemaking that rescinded the Endangerment Finding, states are challenging the federal preemption on greenhouse gas emission regulations. Environmental groups have raised this question in a court case over Vermont’s “climate superfund” law. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a separate but similar challenge in a Colorado case.

What this means: The current administration has clearly signaled they will not be working towards climate goals. However, in the absence of the Endangerment Finding, states may have more latitude to bring climate cases that will have significant implications for future administrations and how they address climate change.

What We are Watching This Week

CII Conference: Headed to CII in March? Reach out to set up a quick catch-up. Roisin Casey and I will be there all week.

Early Bird Registration: US SIF Early Bird Registration for FORUM 2026 Investing Above the Noise closes on March 15. Be sure to register today!