President Trump’s decision to pull the U.S. out of the Paris climate agreement drew the ire of top environmental and science groups Thursday, who called it a major step backward both for the climate and the country as a leader in environmental issues.

The U.S. might as well put up a “closed for business” sign up across America, said Nathaniel Keohane of the Environmental Defense Fund. “Both for symbolic and practical purposes, it would signal an American leadership retreat.”

Jake Schmidt of the Natural Resource Defense Council said that “stepping back from such a historic agreement means we’re not prepared to be leaders on the global stage.”

The 197-member Paris climate agreement requires every country to establish ambitious targets to reduce the greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. Only two countries didn’t sign: Nicaragua and Syria. The U.S. is the second-leading emitter of greenhouse gas emissions behind China.

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The 197-member Paris climate agreement requires every country to establish ambitious targets to reduce the greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. Only two countries didn’t sign: Nicaragua and Syria. The U.S. is the second-leading emitter of greenhouse gas emissions behind China. Photo courtesy of the United Nations.

The 197-member Paris climate agreement requires every country to establish ambitious targets to reduce the greenhouse gasses that cause global warming. Only two countries didn’t sign: Nicaragua and Syria. The U.S. is the second-leading emitter of greenhouse gas emissions behind China. Photo courtesy of the United Nations.