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Joe Biden pledged to double financial aid to developing countries vulnerable to the worsening climate crisis as he warned the UN that the world “is rapidly approaching the point of no return” global warming.
The US president told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that the United States would become the world’s leading provider of climate finance to “help developing countries tackle the climate crisis,” his announcement raising the pledged amount to over $ 11 billion.
Biden said he was confident rich countries would honor a collective pledge to provide $ 100 billion to help poorer countries cope with flooding, heat and other growing impacts, despite a large deficit. to date, but urged governments to do more to address the climate emergency.
“This year has brought widespread death and devastation from the borderless climate crisis,” Biden said. “We are rapidly approaching the point of no return in the literal sense of the word. Will we face the threat of the more difficult climate that is already ravaging every part of our world with extreme weather conditions or will we endure the merciless march of ever more intense droughts and floods, fires and hurricanes? more intense, longer heat waves and rising seas? “
In a speech that called for unity and multilateralism on multiple fronts, Biden said the United States would seek to lead the way on climate, but other countries must bring their “highest ambitions possible. “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“We can no longer afford to waste time. Let’s get to work, let’s create a better future now, ”he said. “We can do it. It’s in our power and our ability.
Biden’s speech was intended to generate some kind of positive momentum amid mounting frustration and anger over the failed attempts by the world’s richest countries to avert the catastrophic climate crisis. Domestically, Biden faces a critical political moment as Congress Democrats struggle to rally votes for a $ 3.5 billion bill containing sweeping measures to cut emissions.
“Climate vulnerable countries, especially low and middle income countries, are already reeling from an unprecedented onslaught of climate-related disasters and desperately need financial support to adapt and build resilience. in the face of worsening impacts, “said Rachel Cleetus, Union chief economist. concerned scientists who praised Biden’s new engagement, which hinges on congressional approval.
“The credibility of the United States on the world stage also depends on securing national policies to help significantly reduce its heat-trapping emissions.”
Time is running out now. A report released by the UN last week showed that countries are a long way from meeting the goals of the Paris climate agreement with their plans to date, put together, to increase global heating emissions from the planet by 16% by 2030.
This is expected to push the world towards 2.7 ° C of global warming by the end of this century, scientists say, triggering increasingly severe heat waves, forest fires, floods and other calamities climatic. The report shows that the planet “is on a catastrophic course,” according to António Guterres, the UN secretary general.
Guterres delivered an opening speech on Tuesday warning that countries are “seemingly light years away from achieving our goals” and that the world is “on the brink and headed in the wrong direction.” In a heated speech that targeted everything from tax evasion to “billionaires taking space walks,” the UN Secretary-General noted how New York City itself was recently inundated by rainfall. record. “We have to get serious and we have to act quickly,” he said.
Every G20 country is failing to cut emissions adequately to avoid catastrophic climate degradation, another recent analysis revealed, leading to growing angst among poorer countries, environmental groups and Guterres, who said that China and the United States, the world’s two biggest carbon polluters, need to mend a “completely dysfunctional relationship” in order to save the dire situation.
It is unclear whether the Chinese leadership will participate in the crucial UN climate talks in Scotland, known as Cop26, in November, as the country is upset by the recent security deal announced by the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Boris Johnson, British Prime Minister, said “history will judge” countries that do not do the right thing to stave off the climate crisis.
“Cop26 will take place in the global spotlight,” Johnson said on Monday. “And when the summit comes to an end, when most countries of the world have embarked on decisive, game-changing action, it will be clear to all of us who among us has not had the courage to step up.”
Smaller and less wealthy countries used the UN meeting to express simmering fury over a worsening climate emergency and threatening the future viability of some vulnerable countries. “For us, it is inexplicable that the world does not act and this suggests that we in the small islands must remain indispensable and remain invisible,” said Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados.
Carlos Alvarado Quesada, President of Costa Rica, said if the countries were private companies, all leaders would have been fired for not following the course. “Things stay the same,” he said. “It’s absurd.”
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