In many ways, there will be little surprise that Donald Trump has turned his back on the world's first comprehensive deal on climate change but it is a profoundly depressing development that ignores the danger posed to the entire planet by rising temperatures.
It is true that during the election campaign, Mr Trump had vowed to withdraw from the hard won Paris Agreement but there had been hopes that international pressure and the global realities might persuade him to act in the world's interests and not just America's.
However, after a rocky few months in the White House and continuing controversy over his administration's links to Russia, the president may well have concluded it was time to clock up a win in his terms and certainly it will please his most ardent supporters.
In a speech that demonstrated his dark and narrow world view as well as his paranoia about what the international community thinks, Mr Trump declared he was "elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris".
It was a neat soundbite, though rather spoiled by the mayor of Pittsburgh - a Democrat - who immediately tweeted that his city would follow the guidelines of the Paris accord "for our people, our economy and future".
While Republicans and the coal industry supported the president's move, it was encouraging to see a number of state governors commit to reducing polluting emissions, regardless of Mr Trump's decision.
We must hope there are enough forward-looking people in positions of power in the United States that understand the importance of taking action to protect our planet.
Mr Trump is a consummate outsider but even so it is quite remarkable that he finds himself ranged against the rest of the world on this vital issue.
Apart from the US, only Nicaragua and Syria have failed to sign up to the Paris agreement which is only the start of a process aimed at addressing the damage caused by global warming.
Mr Trump has chosen to put the US economy before science, a short-sighted approach that ultimately is not in the best interests of his country or the wider world.
His abdication of responsibility on this matter will cause deep dismay internationally and while Theresa May expressed disappointment at Mr Trump's announcement, she has been criticised for not adding her name to a joint statement by the leaders of France, Germany and Italy saying the Paris accord cannot be renegotiated as the president has suggested.
Many people were fearful what a Trump presidency would mean for the international community.
Unfortunately, his words and actions since his election have only served to underscore those concerns.
