© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Italian alpine rescuers climb a frozen waterfall in Malga Ciapela, Italy, February 11, 2020. Image taken February 11, 2020. Twice a month all year long members of the Italian Alpine Rescue Service (CNSAS), a lot of whom are volunteers,
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By Jeff Mason and Alexandra Alper
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden urged world leaders on Friday to affix the USA and European Union in a pledge to chop methane emissions, hoping to construct momentum earlier than a global summit on local weather change begins subsequent month.
Biden held a digital assembly of the Main Economies Discussion board (MEF), a follow-up to an Earth Day assembly he hosted in April https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-climate-summit-idCAKBN2CA0DK to unveil new U.S. greenhouse fuel emissions discount targets and press different international locations to do extra to curb theirs.
Tackling local weather change is certainly one of Biden’s high home and worldwide priorities, and the U.N. COP26 local weather convention in Glasgow from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 is seen as a crucial second for the world to decide to doing extra to halt rising temperatures.
The United Nations mentioned on Thursday the tempo of local weather change had not been slowed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the world was dropping its battle https://www.reuters.com/enterprise/surroundings/un-says-world-likely-miss-climate-targets-despite-covid-pause-emissions-2021-09-16 to chop emissions sufficient to cap world warming at 1.5 levels Celsius above pre-industrial ranges.
Biden requested different nations Friday to affix a pact agreed by the USA and the EU to purpose to cut back world methane emissions by at the least 30 p.c under 2020 ranges by 2030.
“This won’t solely quickly scale back the speed of worldwide warming, however … it’s going to additionally produce a really helpful aspect profit like bettering public well being and agricultural output,” Biden advised the leaders.
“We consider the collective aim is each formidable however life like, and we urge you to affix us in saying this pledge at COP26,” Biden mentioned.
Globally, methane emissions are accountable https://www.reuters.com/enterprise/surroundings/save-planet-focus-cutting-methane-un-climate-report-2021-08-09 for round 30% of warming for the reason that pre-industrial period, in keeping with the United Nations.
Leaders from Argentina, Bangladesh, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, Britain, and the European Union took half within the MEF, together with United Nations Secretary Normal António Guterres, the White Home mentioned.
The April summit included remarks from China’s President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and different high world leaders.
Biden mentioned he wished to make use of the MEF to enhance different local weather change boards and his staff, together with local weather envoy John Kerry, is working to push international locations to set formidable targets for reducing their greenhouse fuel emissions.
“No matter commitments we make at COP26, we should all resolve collectively in Glasgow to proceed strengthening our ambition and our actions … to maintain us … under 1.5 levels and hold that inside attain,” Biden mentioned.
Leaders and activists warned of doubtless disastrous penalties.
“Below present insurance policies, we’ll attain virtually 3 levels of worldwide warming by the tip of the century,” Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi mentioned, in keeping with remarks launched by his workplace. “The implications of such a rise in world temperatures could be catastrophic.”
Biden introduced in April a brand new goal to cut back U.S. greenhouse fuel emissions 50%-52% by 2030 in contrast with 2005 ranges. Biden has been emphasizing local weather change repeatedly in latest weeks within the wake of harm from devastating floods and wildfires throughout the USA.
