19/02/2021 (Agence Europe) – While the G7 leaders were meeting to discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, global recovery, and the climate (see other news), Friday 19 February also marked the United States’ official return to the Paris Agreement, 30 days after signing the presidential decree providing for this return (see EUROPE 12641/26). From day one of his mandate, US President Joe Biden decided to do the exact opposite to his predecessor, Donald Trump, who initiated the US withdrawal procedure on 4 November 2019 (withdrawal which became effective one year later, on 4 November 2020). “Today’s the day. We’re officially back in the Paris Agreement - again, part of the global climate effort”, said John Kerry, the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, on Twitter. (DG)