116GW Projects at Risk: US Withdraws from Three Core UN Climate Bodies

PVTIME – The White House has issued a presidential memorandum announcing the United States’ withdrawal from dozens of international organisations, most of which are affiliated with the United Nations. According to the memorandum, these bodies run counter to US interests, and the withdrawal will involve ceasing participation in, or funding for, the entities, to the extent permitted by law. The list of organisations includes the International Solar Alliance, as well as others focused on security, international aid, and development.

While the impact is expected to be more political than practical, it clearly signals the current administration’s isolationist stance. This position first became evident on President Trump’s inauguration day, when the US withdrew from the Paris Agreement’s climate change goals. The Trump administration’s domestic and trade policies could impede the growth of the US solar and renewable energy markets, with industry leaders criticising the measures as unfair. Major US trade bodies have warned that up to 116GW of projects may face political uncertainty as a result.

Despite rising solar power purchase agreement prices amid policy headwinds, US renewable energy growth continues to be driven by the economics of solar and energy storage, private-sector energy targets, growing demand, particularly from hyperscale users, such as data centres, and renewable energy tax incentives introduced by the previous administration. State-level or international climate-linked targets are not the primary drivers of growth.

Elsewhere, globally, renewable energy, led by solar photovoltaics, has overtaken traditional energy in terms of investment and installed capacity. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, 54 billion US dollars were invested in solar photovoltaics in 2024, and global renewable energy installed capacity has grown at more than twice the rate of total electricity generation since 2012. This is partly due to commitments from international organisations such as the United Nations, as well as the low cost of solar energy.

However, achieving net zero climate goals remains a global challenge, as current trajectories make it impossible to meet commitments by 2030 or 2050. IRENA states that significant increases in global renewable energy deployment are needed to meet the targets agreed at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2023, while policy and economic challenges have already caused a decline in Europe’s solar photovoltaic market. While the US withdrawal from these UN initiatives will not support the global solar market or energy transition, it is unlikely to cause excessive disruption.