The United States is back on emissions and climate protection summit

US President Joe Biden warned that “the indications are clear. The science cannot be denied. The costs of doing nothing are getting bigger and bigger.” The United States wants to cut its emissions in half by 2030.

With a new climate protection goal for 2030 and an international summit, the United States is re-reporting on the world stage in the fight against global warming. At the online climate summit with 40 heads of state and government at the White House, US President Joe Biden called for decisive and swift action to contain the climate crisis. Biden cautioned that “the signs cannot be tolerated. The science cannot be denied. The costs of doing nothing are getting bigger and bigger.”

The United States itself wants to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least half compared to 2005 by the end of the decade: at the macroeconomic level, the reduction should be as much as 50 to 52 percent. Biden called on industrialized nations to mobilize funds for climate protection and also announced additional payments from his country. The US President said: “It is an investment that will pay off for all of us.”

Biden announced that the United States is increasing its financial support to developing countries to combat climate change. The White House released the “International Climate Financing Plan,” the first by a US government, on Thursday. Among other things, the plan envisages doubling US funds for developing countries to reduce greenhouse gases. American money to help developing countries adapt to climate change will triple. These two goals – based on the years 2013 to 2016 – are set to be achieved by 2024.

Pope: We must look forward

Pope Francis called on attendees at the Internet Climate Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden to look to the future. The head of the Catholic Church said in a video message Thursday, that climate change is a challenge that will keep everyone busy even after the Corona pandemic. Responsibility for nature must be taken and one must ensure that the environment is made cleaner and more protected.

Francis praised the meeting of heads of state and government that Biden gathered at a two-day internet summit. The summit meeting aims to underscore the urgency and economic benefits of stronger climate protection measures, and is an important preparation for the Glasgow climate conference. Experts agree that a lot more needs to be done around the world by 2030 if global warming is to remain well below two degrees, as agreed in 2015 by nearly 200 countries in Paris.

Developing countries plan

In addition to several other measures, the plan also provides for international efforts to reduce public investment in non-renewable energies. Private investors should also be encouraged to invest in climate-friendly options. “If successful, the plan will help developing countries around the world better deal with the climate crisis, with major benefits for their societies and regions as well as for the United States,” the paper says.

With the new climate goal set by the US government shortly before the summit, the United States is fulfilling the requirements of the Paris climate agreement, in which Biden reinstated the country as one of his first official actions. His predecessor, Donald Trump, left the international deal. The Climate Agreement requires signatory countries to improve their climate goals every five years. At the Glasgow Global Climate Conference in November, all partners must officially do so.

A tough goal: two degrees of global warming

Biden’s two-day online climate summit aims to underscore the urgency and economic benefits of stronger climate protection measures, and is an important preparation for the Glasgow climate conference. Experts agree that a lot more needs to be done around the world by 2030 if global warming is to remain well below two degrees, as agreed in 2015 by nearly 200 countries in Paris. The Earth’s temperature has already risen by about 1.2 degrees compared to pre-industrial times.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a global alliance for greenhouse gas neutrality by mid-century, with “every country, region, city, company and sector” participating. At the Biden summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with the international community, including the United States, to fulfill commitments under the Paris Agreement. Xi promised to cut coal consumption in his country from 2025 and strictly monitor coal-fired power plants.

Von der Leyen: “Setting the standards together”

“Let’s set a new global standard for climate neutrality together,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday. She referred to the European Union’s new climate goal for 2030 of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases harmful to the climate by at least 55 per cent compared to 1990. The European Union’s climate law also stipulates that Europe will be climate neutral by 2050. This means that it must yet So all greenhouse gases are avoided or stored.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed the aim of the new climate for the United States at the summit. She said coal is still an “important source of energy” in Germany, but that coal is phased out by 2038 at the latest. Last year, 46 percent of our electricity came from clean energy sources. By 2030, the proportion should rise to 65 percent.

Britain aims to cut emissions by 78 percent from the level of the 1990s by 2035. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at the summit that Britain has shown that it is possible to reduce emissions while still achieving significant economic growth. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that his country wants to cut emissions by 46% by fiscal year 2030/2031 compared to fiscal year 2013. So far, a reduction of only 26% has been planned. Canada, in turn, wants to cut emissions by 40 to 45 percent between 2005 and 2030, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised.

Putin: The whole world must join forces

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the entire international community must join forces in the fight against global warming. The largest country in the world by area is particularly affected by high temperature. In Siberia, permafrost is melting, which is why scientists warn about releasing large amounts of carbon. Large forest fires also broke out in parts of Russia last summer.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on rich countries to take more responsibility. Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro, who has come under international pressure, said Brazil will end illegal logging by 2030. This will reduce its emissions by 50 percent by that date. Bolsonaro demanded, however, a “fair reward” for the “environmental services” that Brazil provides to the planet. Environment Minister Ricardo Salles recently set $ 1 billion as a cost to reduce deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon by 40 percent in one year.

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