In response to a January 2026 executive order withdrawing the United States from numerous United Nations environmental and human rights organizations, climate advocates and international partners are doubling down on their commitment to global cooperation and environmental protection.

The Center for International Environmental Law, led by President and CEO Rebecca Brown, is helping to galvanize a renewed international focus on multilateral climate action. While the withdrawal affects US participation in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and other critical bodies, Brown emphasized an important legal reality: international obligations and the urgent need for climate action remain unchanged regardless of political shifts.

The Ripple Effect

This moment has catalyzed something unexpected and powerful. Nations and organizations worldwide are responding by strengthening their own commitments to the international frameworks designed to protect human rights, advance sustainable development, and confront climate challenges. The global community, built over nearly eight decades of cooperation, continues to demonstrate resilience.

Environmental law experts point out that the scientific evidence of climate change and the need for coordinated action remains irrefutable. Last year's World Court rulings on climate responsibility underscored that legal obligations to prevent climate harm transcend any single nation's participation in international bodies. This legal framework continues to guide global efforts toward climate justice.

Organizations like CIEL are working with international partners to ensure that the infrastructure supporting climate action, refugee protection, gender equality, and ocean preservation remains robust. Their efforts focus on helping vulnerable communities, including women, children, and refugees, who depend on these global protections.

The situation has also revealed the deep interconnectedness of our modern world. Rising seas, record temperatures, and climate related challenges affect all nations, creating natural incentives for continued cooperation regardless of individual government positions. Many countries are using this moment to showcase their own climate leadership and commitment to multilateral solutions.

Environmental groups emphasize that grassroots movements, civil society organizations, and committed nations can continue advancing climate solutions through alternative channels of cooperation. The foundation of international environmental law, built on decades of scientific consensus and diplomatic work, provides a sturdy framework that endures beyond temporary policy shifts.

Perhaps most inspiring is the response from younger generations of climate advocates who see this as a call to action rather than defeat. They're mobilizing support for international cooperation and reminding the world that progress toward climate justice continues through countless dedicated individuals and organizations working across borders.

The global commitment to protecting our shared planet, supporting vulnerable populations, and building a sustainable future remains strong. While political winds shift, the fundamental human capacity for cooperation and care continues to shine through.