Joe Biden, President of the United States, at the Climate Conference. (Photo: Al Drago/Correspondent/Getty Images)
US President Joe Biden called on world leaders on Friday to join his country and the European Union in pledging to cut methane emissions, hoping to create momentum before an international summit on climate change begins. in the next month.
Biden made the comments during a virtual meeting of the Major Economies Forum (MEF) at the White House, a follow-up to the Earth Day meeting he hosted in April to introduce new targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions and urge other nations to do more. to contain their property.
The United Kingdom responded to the call, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to be one of the first signatories of the global methane pledge to reduce harmful gas emissions.
Tackling climate change is one of Biden’s top domestic and international priorities, and the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow from October 31 to November 12 is seen as a critical time for the world to commit to doing more to halt rising temperatures. .
The United Nations said Thursday that the pace of climate change has not been slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic and that the world is losing the battle to cut emissions enough to keep global warming 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial. levels. Scientists say this is the ceiling for avoiding the most catastrophic effects of climate change.
Also on Friday, Biden urged other countries to join a deal agreed by the United States and the European Union that aims to cut methane emissions by at least 30% below 2020 levels by 2030.
“Not only will this rapidly slow the pace of global warming, but … it will also produce a very valuable side benefit, such as improving public health and agricultural production,” Biden told leaders.
“We believe that the collective goal is both ambitious and realistic, and we ask that you join us in declaring this commitment at COP26,” the US president said.
Globally, methane emissions are responsible for about 30% of warming since pre-industrial times, according to the United Nations. A recent report by climate scientists at the organization said that reducing methane emissions is the fastest way to slow global warming.
The White House said leaders from Argentina, Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the European Union participated in the Mediterranean Economic Forum, as did United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
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