JANUARY 8, 2026 — Donald Trump has once again shaken the world stage — this time by pulling the United States out of dozens of international and U.N. entities, including the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and UN Women. His justification? These organizations “operate contrary to U.S. national interests.” 

But let’s pause and ask: Whose interests are really being served when the world’s second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases walks away from the “bedrock” climate treaty?

Manish Bapna, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, minced no words: “The United States would be the first country to walk away from the UNFCCC.” 

He added, “Every other nation is a member, in part because they recognize that even beyond the moral imperative of addressing climate change, having a seat at the table in those negotiations represents an ability to shape massive economic policy and opportunity.”

Will you rise?

Here in the Philippines, climate change isn’t an abstract debate — it’s a lived reality. Rising sea levels, stronger typhoons, and unpredictable rainfall patterns are already threatening our communities. 

So when Trump dismisses climate change as a “hoax,” “con job,” or “mythical,” we can’t help but wonder: How does this denial ripple across the globe, especially in vulnerable nations like ours?

Equally troubling is the U.S. withdrawal from UN Women, a body dedicated to gender equality and women’s empowerment. For a country like the Philippines, where women have long fought for representation and equal opportunities, this move sends a chilling signal. 

Trump’s stance has often been criticized as dismissive of women’s rights, and cutting ties with UN Women only reinforces that perception. 

What message does it send to young Filipinas striving for empowerment when one of the world’s most powerful nations turns its back on such advocacy?

Trump’s broader pattern is clear: skepticism toward multilateralism, slashing U.S. funding for U.N. agencies, quitting UNESCO, halting support for Palestinian relief, and even announcing plans to leave the World Health Organization. His administration favors fossil fuels, rolls back climate regulations, and sidelines gender equality initiatives. 

The White House frames this as protecting sovereignty and economic strength — but at what cost to global cooperation?

For Filipinos, the lesson is stark. We cannot rely solely on superpowers to lead the fight for climate justice or gender equality. If anything, Trump’s retreat should push us to strengthen our own voice in international forums, to demand accountability, and to champion causes that directly affect our survival and dignity.

Will you claim the fight that matters most to us?

(Image: Yahoo News UK)