US climate summit aims to build momentum ahead of Glasgow
Andrew Hammond
US President Joe Biden. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool, File)
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While the eyes of many environmentalists across the world are already focused on November’s COP26 summit in Glasgow, this week’s US-hosted climate conference is also vital in this most important year for global warming diplomacy since 2015.
The US event on Thursday (Earth Day) and Friday, convened virtually by President Joe Biden and involving some 40 other world leaders, is important for at least two big reasons.
Firstly, the US has announced plans to cut its emissions by at least 50 percent compared to 2005 levels by 2030. While even this commitment lags behind Europe, it could spur other large emitters to raise their game, as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hinted recently. He said such a move would “have very important consequences in relation to Japan, in relation to China, in relation to Russia.” Japan and Canada are the most likely candidates to join the “50 percent club” as soon as this week, with South Korea tipped to follow later in the year.