Joe Biden's virtual climate summit focused on addressing climate change and making commitments to reduce greenhouse emissions. (Image Credit: Adam Schultz/ Public Domain)
Power generation is tied to the climate. The whole industry is about to change. Here is the rundown of what exactly…
Four years after Donald Trump disengaged the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, Joe Biden is putting the country back on track by re-joining the pact. Biden and forty world leaders participated in a two-day virtual climate summit to tackle climate change and make commitments toward reducing greenhouse gases.
"This is a moment for all of us to build better economies for our children, our grandchildren, and all of us to thrive, to thrive and not just now, but beyond for the next generations," Biden said. "Nations that work together to invest in a cleaner economy will reap rewards for their citizens."
Perhaps the biggest take from this summit was Biden's pledge to cut greenhouse emissions by 50 to 52% below 2005 levels by 2030, which is the most ambitious goal set by the country. Biden and his team arrived at this number during a White House meeting. Even though these targets are part of the Paris climate agreement, the administration has not yet crafted a plan to reach those goals. This pledge means significant changes need to be implemented. That includes eliminating coal from electricity generation and putting more electric vehicles on the road.
Meanwhile, other countries made commitments. Japan pledged to cut emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2013 levels. The country ranks fifth among world emissions rankings and previously pledged to a 26% reduction, which was insufficient. Canada pledged to reduce emissions by 40 to 45% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, a significant increase from its previous 30% pledge.
India, the third-largest emitter behind China and the U.S, didn't come up with a new goal. Instead, the country re-confirmed its promise to deploy 450 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030. India's leader also announced an India-U.S. Climate and Clean Energy Agenda Partnership for 2030. Vladimir Putin pledged to reduce emissions in the next three decades. Putin also said Russia almost cut its emissions by 50% compared to 1990 and urged for a global reduction of methane.
Xi Jinping, China's President, reaffirmed pledges to peak emissions before 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2060. The U.S. and China agreed to work together on climate change. South Korea plans to stop its public financing of coal-fired power plants overseas. It expects to reveal an improved emission cuts pledge.
During the climate summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe's goal is to be the first climate-neutral continent in the world. "Yesterday, we agreed Europe's first-ever Climate Law with the European Parliament and our 27 governments. With this, we write into stone the goal set out by the European Green Deal – to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050," von der Leyen said.
Ricardo Salles, Brazil's environment minister, said Brazil needs additional resource funding to enforce its deforestation and carbon emission reduction plans by 2030.
Greta Thunberg, a climate activist from Sweden, criticized the world leaders' response to climate change. "How long do you think you can continue to ignore the climate crisis, the global aspect of equity, and historic emissions without being held accountable?" asked Thunberg. "You get away with it now, but sooner or, later people are going to realize what you have been doing all this time. That's inevitable. You still have time to do the right thing and to save your legacies."
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