Former Vice President Al Gore has sharply criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from United Nations climate initiatives, calling the move a significant setback to global climate action efforts.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Gore described climate change as “the most significant challenge of our lifetimes” and emphasized the crucial role of international institutions in addressing this crisis.

“The ongoing work of the IPCC, UNFCCC, and other global institutions remains essential to safeguarding humanity’s future,” Gore stated, referring to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Gore’s comments come in response to a sweeping memorandum issued by President Trump ordering U.S. withdrawal from numerous international organizations, including key climate-focused entities. The memorandum affects not only the IPCC and UNFCCC but dozens of other international partnerships.

“By withdrawing from the IPCC, UNFCCC, and other vital international partnerships, the Trump Administration is undoing decades of hard-won diplomacy, attempting to undermine climate science, and sowing distrust around the world,” Gore warned in his statement.

The presidential memorandum, which lists the IPCC under “Non-United Nations Organizations” despite the panel’s self-identification as a UN body, declares that continued U.S. involvement in these organizations is “contrary to the interests of the United States.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s position, stating that “what started as a pragmatic framework of international organizations for peace and cooperation has morphed into a sprawling architecture of global governance, often dominated by progressive ideology and detached from national interests.”

This withdrawal represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy regarding climate initiatives. Climate scientists and environmental advocates have expressed concern that American disengagement could undermine global efforts to address climate change at a critical juncture when international cooperation is essential.

The IPCC, established in 1988, provides comprehensive scientific assessments on climate change, its impacts, and potential response strategies. The UNFCCC, created in 1992, serves as the primary international framework for negotiating climate action agreements, including the Paris Climate Accord, which the Trump administration previously withdrew from during his first term.

Environmental policy experts note that this latest action further solidifies Trump’s “America First” approach to international relations and his skepticism toward multilateral environmental agreements. Critics argue that the withdrawal could diminish U.S. influence in shaping global climate policies and potentially slow progress on emissions reduction targets.

Gore, who has made climate advocacy his primary focus since leaving office, has frequently criticized the Trump administration’s environmental policies. The former vice president, who narrowly lost the 2000 presidential election to Republican George W. Bush, has become one of the world’s most prominent climate activists, producing documentaries like “An Inconvenient Truth” and its sequel.

The timing of this announcement comes as climate scientists continue to document rising global temperatures and increasingly severe weather events that many attribute to climate change. According to recent climate reports, immediate and coordinated international action remains critical to preventing the most severe potential impacts of global warming.

The administration’s decision to withdraw from these climate initiatives reflects a fundamental disagreement about America’s role in global climate governance and raises questions about the future of international climate cooperation should Trump’s policies remain in place.