The Trump administration filed paperwork today to make official the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.

"President Trump made the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement because of the unfair economic burden imposed on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers by U.S. pledges made under the Agreement," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "The United States has reduced all types of emissions, even as we grow our economy and ensure our citizens’ access to affordable energy."


Complete withdrawal cannot take effect for one year after the paperwork is filed, so the U.S. will not leave the agreement until Nov. 4, 2020, the day after Election Day. Trump promised to withdraw from the agreement in 2017, but could not officially start the process until three years after the agreement went into effect.