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Climate change: Biden summit to push for immediate action Climate change: US surprises summit with ‘bold' emissions target
(about 2 hours later)
The US will attempt to re-assert its global leadership on climate change as President Joe Biden hosts 40 leaders at a virtual summit in the White House. The US has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by the end of this decade.
It's expected that the US will unveil an updated carbon pledge that will see its emissions nearly halved by 2030. This new target, which will be unveiled at a virtual summit of 40 global leaders, essentially doubles their previous promise.
Ahead of the meeting, officials urged greater ambition on countries perceived as laggards on climate. The Americans hope that their ambitious new plan will encourage China, India and others to go further before the crucial COP26 meeting, in Glasgow in November.
Referring to Australia, an official said "there would have to be a shift" in their approach. But there will be some scepticism about the ability of the US to deliver on its new target, given the divided nature of American politics.
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President Biden has made climate change a key focus in the early days of his administration. The UK is among the countries that have been keen to show their ambition ahead of the meeting. Earlier in the week, the prime minister announced a "world-leading" target for the UK to cut emissions by 78% on 1990 levels by 2035.
As well as re-joining the Paris climate agreement on his first day in office, he announced early on that he would gather around 40 world leaders for a global summit on Earth Day - 22 April. The UK is playing a critical role this year as president of COP26, and is tasked with achieving agreement in Glasgow when world leaders meet there in November.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will attend the summit, and is expected to tell leaders that 2021 is the year countries need to "get serious" about tackling climate change. Biden's ambition will be challenged
The UK is hosting the crucial COP 26 summit in November this year. Held in Glasgow, it will aim to galvanise action on keeping the global temperature rise this century to less than 1.5C. Climate has been the central focus of the Biden administration's first few months in office.
As well as rejoining the Paris climate pact and organising Thursday's summit, the Biden team have been working on a strong pledge to convince the world that they mean business.
Many commentators had pushed the US to go for a 50% cut in emissions as a clear signal of intent.
The fact that President Biden is prepared to go beyond this level will be a welcome surprise to many scientists and campaigners.
"By announcing a bold target of cutting emissions 50-52% below 2005 by the end of the decade, President Biden has met the moment and the urgency that the climate crisis demands," said Nathaniel Keohane from the US Environmental Defense Fund.
President Biden rejoined the Paris agreement on his first day in office and pledged to hold a leaders summit shortly afterPresident Biden rejoined the Paris agreement on his first day in office and pledged to hold a leaders summit shortly after
China's President Xi Jinping will also be among those attending. "This target aligns with what the science says is necessary to put the world on the path to a safer climate, and vaults the US into the top tier of world leaders on climate ambition."
Despite serious tensions between the two countries on a host of issues, both sides seem keen to keep climate change separate from these disputes. Last weekend, the two countries issued a joint statement saying they would tackle climate "with the seriousness and urgency it demands". The new pledge will mean huge changes to the American way of life. Coal will have to disappear from the electricity mix, while gas guzzling cars and trucks will have to go electric.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, a senior Biden administration official spoke warmly about the potential for co-operation. But announcing an ambitious target is one thing - turning it into reality is another.
"It's quite clear that there is a distinctly shared level of ambition. Both countries see this as a crisis. Both countries see the need for action in the 2020s. Both countries see the need to work towards holding the increase in global temperatures to 1.5C," he said. A coal train snakes through the landscape in the US - predictions are that coal use will increase this year as the economy recovers from the pandemic
While the Democrats have a majority in the House of Representatives, the Senate is essentially deadlocked, making the passage of new climate legislation rather tricky.
"It seems to me that President Biden is in a bit of a bind, and he has to deal with the Congress that he has," said Samantha Gross from the Brookings Institution.
"But I believe that Congress, particularly the Republicans haven't really kept up with increasing concern among the American public about climate."
US and China keen to co-operate
Among the 40 leaders attending the summit will be China's President Xi Jinping.
Despite serious tensions between the US and China on a host of issues, both sides seem keen to keep climate change separate from these disputes.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, a senior administration official spoke warmly about the co-operative approach.
"It's quite clear that there is a distinctly shared level of ambition. Both countries see this as a crisis. Both countries see the need for action in the 2020s. Both countries see the need to work towards holding the increase in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees," he said.
"We certainly hope that President Xi will come to the meeting, and further elaborate on some of the additional efforts that China would choose to make. But I think we've got a very strong basis in the joint statement that the two countries made about the directions they seem to be moving.""We certainly hope that President Xi will come to the meeting, and further elaborate on some of the additional efforts that China would choose to make. But I think we've got a very strong basis in the joint statement that the two countries made about the directions they seem to be moving."
Protestors outside the White House hold cardboard cut outs of the leaders due to meet Despite some earlier uncertainty, China President Xi Jinping will address the US summit
But for other countries who have been slow to embrace action on climate change, the Biden team were less effusive.But for other countries who have been slow to embrace action on climate change, the Biden team were less effusive.
Both Brazil and Australia's sceptical approach to the issue had found favour in the Trump White House. That's no longer the case.Both Brazil and Australia's sceptical approach to the issue had found favour in the Trump White House. That's no longer the case.
"At the moment, I think that our colleagues in Australia recognise that there's going to have to be a shift," one official said."At the moment, I think that our colleagues in Australia recognise that there's going to have to be a shift," one official said.
"It's insufficient to follow the existing trajectory, and hope that they will be on a course to deep decarbonisation, and getting to net zero emissions by mid-century.""It's insufficient to follow the existing trajectory, and hope that they will be on a course to deep decarbonisation, and getting to net zero emissions by mid-century."
Speaking about Brazil, the same official said: "The expectation for all countries is that the ambition has to be increased immediately."Speaking about Brazil, the same official said: "The expectation for all countries is that the ambition has to be increased immediately."
The UK is among the countries that have been keen to show their ambition ahead of the meeting. Earlier in the week, the prime minister announced a "world-leading" target for the UK to cut emissions by 78% on 1990 levels by 2035. Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for slow action on climate
Boris Johnson is expected to tell the meeting: "The UK has shown that it's possible to slash emissions while growing the economy, which makes the question of reaching net zero not so much technical as political. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to tell the virtual White House meeting: "The UK has shown that it's possible to slash emissions while growing the economy, which makes question of reaching net zero not so much technical as political.
"If we actually want to stop climate change, then this must be the year in which we get serious about doing so."If we actually want to stop climate change, then this must be the year in which we get serious about doing so.
"Because the 2020s will be remembered either as the decade in which world leaders united to turn the tide, or as a failure.""Because the 2020s will be remembered either as the decade in which world leaders united to turn the tide, or as a failure."
Despite some earlier uncertainty, China President Xi Jinping will address the US summit Protestors outside the White House hold cardboard cut outs of the leaders due to meet
The US is also talking strongly about its ambition, but the proof of change for many observers will be in their new carbon-cutting pledge for 2030, which they are expected to announce at the summit. In addition to the US pledge, there are also expected to be new steps announced by a number of countries.
This will require some clever footwork from the US. They will have to go for a figure that is scientifically credible but also politically achievable.
While the Democrats have a majority in the House of Representatives, the Senate is essentially deadlocked, making the passage of new climate legislation rather tricky.
"It seems to me that President Biden is in a bit of a bind, and he has to deal with the Congress that he has," said Samantha Gross from the Brookings Institution.
"But I believe that Congress, particularly the Republicans, haven't really kept up with increasing concern among the American public about climate."
For some in the international community, even the mooted 50% cut in emissions won't be going far enough.
A coal train snakes through the landscape in the US - predictions are that coal use will increase this year as the economy recovers from the pandemic
"The US should cut at least 55% from 2005 levels by 2030 to inspire others to raise their ambitions," said Quamrul Chowdhury, from Bangladesh and a climate negotiator for the Least Developed countries group.
"Mitigation is the best adaptation and major economies must cutback emissions quickly and steeply."
The US pledge will undoubtedly be the headline, whatever its size - but there are also expected to be new steps announced by a number of countries.
"The three that I think are most likely beside the US to step up at this summit are Canada, Japan and South Korea," said Helen Mountford from the World Resources Institute (WRI)."The three that I think are most likely beside the US to step up at this summit are Canada, Japan and South Korea," said Helen Mountford from the World Resources Institute (WRI).
Australia's prime minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for slow action on climate
"China... would be fantastic, but I think [we] quite likely might wait longer, I wouldn't expect it at this time.""China... would be fantastic, but I think [we] quite likely might wait longer, I wouldn't expect it at this time."
She added: "India is a real question mark, but whether they're going to announce either a net zero target or enhanced plan, I would say there's less of a chance of that."She added: "India is a real question mark, but whether they're going to announce either a net zero target or enhanced plan, I would say there's less of a chance of that."
For those who were involved in the negotiations that led to the Paris agreement in 2015, the key thing this week is not to derail the discussions at the first hurdle.For those who were involved in the negotiations that led to the Paris agreement in 2015, the key thing this week is not to derail the discussions at the first hurdle.
This is the first big climate meeting of a critical year that will culminate in a gathering of around 200 world leaders in Glasgow in November at COP26.This is the first big climate meeting of a critical year that will culminate in a gathering of around 200 world leaders in Glasgow in November at COP26.
"I think that for the US leaders summit to be a success, we need to have the 40 leaders present and expressing their willingness to reach strong agreement by Glasgow," said Remy Rioux, who was a negotiator for France during the Paris talks."I think that for the US leaders summit to be a success, we need to have the 40 leaders present and expressing their willingness to reach strong agreement by Glasgow," said Remy Rioux, who was a negotiator for France during the Paris talks.
"And also for the US to demonstrate that they are back, and that they are back as convincingly and strongly as possible.""And also for the US to demonstrate that they are back, and that they are back as convincingly and strongly as possible."
Follow Matt on Twitter.Follow Matt on Twitter.