No Climate Treaties Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 3713
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S347)
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-12T11:03:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "No Climate Treaties Act of 2026" aims to ensure that the U.S. Senate has a formal role in approving any international climate agreements, treating them as treaties under the Constitution. This would prevent the executive branch from entering or reentering such agreements without Senate consent, particularly those involving legally binding reductions in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Key Provisions
- Senate Approval Requirement (Section 2): Any international climate agreement or pact mandating legally binding cuts to domestic greenhouse gas emissions must be submitted to the Senate for "advice and consent" as a treaty, per Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. This explicitly includes the Paris Agreement (adopted in 2015 under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change).
- Funding Restrictions (Section 3): Federal funds cannot be used to implement, enforce, or comply with such agreements unless the Senate has provided its approval. This applies to both new entries and reentries into these pacts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Elevates international climate agreements from potential "executive agreements" (which the president can enter unilaterally) to full treaties requiring a two-thirds Senate vote for ratification.
- Introduces a funding prohibition that blocks implementation without Senate consent, overriding previous executive actions like the U.S. reentry into the Paris Agreement in 2021.
- No changes to domestic climate laws, but it directly challenges the legal status of non-binding or executive-led international climate commitments.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Limits the executive branch (e.g., State Department, EPA) from using funds or actions to fulfill international climate obligations without Senate approval, potentially halting U.S. participation in global climate efforts.
- On Citizens: Could slow or prevent new regulations on emissions, affecting industries like energy and transportation; environmental advocates may face barriers to international cooperation on climate issues.
- On International Relations: May strain U.S. ties with allies committed to climate accords (e.g., EU nations, UN bodies), signaling reduced U.S. leadership on global warming and complicating multilateral negotiations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Senate and Congress: Gains veto power over climate pacts, empowering senators focused on sovereignty or economic concerns.
- Executive Branch: Including the president and agencies like the Department of State and Environmental Protection Agency, which lose flexibility in foreign policy on climate.
- Environmental and Industry Groups: Climate activists and NGOs may see reduced U.S. global action; fossil fuel, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors could benefit from fewer emission mandates.
- International Partners: Countries and organizations involved in climate talks (e.g., UN, Paris Agreement signatories) face uncertainty in U.S. commitments.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Constitutional: Reinforces the Senate's treaty role under Article II, potentially resolving debates over whether climate accords qualify as treaties; could lead to court challenges if executive actions bypass it.
- Legal: Redefines "international climate agreements" to include any with binding emission reductions, creating a clear test for future pacts; the funding ban may invite lawsuits over appropriation powers.
- Political: Reflects partisan divides, with sponsors (mostly Republican senators) emphasizing national sovereignty over international obligations; could influence midterm or presidential agendas on energy independence versus global climate goals.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (24)
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL], Sen. Cruz, Ted [R-TX], Sen. Johnson, Ron [R-WI], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO], Sen. Paul, Rand [R-KY], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S347)
- 2026-01-28: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- No Climate Treaties Act of 2026 — issued 2026-01-28 — PDF (2 pages)