Biden tells leaders U.S. will meet climate goals, while his agenda
falters at home
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[November 02, 2021]
By Jeff Mason and Valerie Volcovici
GLASGOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe
Biden on Monday sought to assure world leaders the United States would
fulfill its promise to slash greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end
of the decade, but a setback at home heightened uncertainty about his
ability to follow through.
Biden joined leaders from over 100 countries in Glasgow for the start of
the COP26 climate conference, which kicked off on the heels of the G20
summit in Rome that concluded with a statement that urged "meaningful
and effective" action on climate change but left huge work for
negotiators to ensure an ambitious outcome.
Biden, who succeeded former president Donald Trump in January, pledged
earlier this year that the United States would cut its greenhouse gas
emissions 50-52% by 2030 compared with 2005 levels. The White House has
expressed confidence it can achieve that, even as a bill that would help
further those goals languishes in Congress, with a key senator on Monday
withholding his support, for now.
Biden wanted to show to the world that Washington could be trusted to
fight global warming despite changes in policies between Republican and
Democratic administrations that have undermined its pledges in the past.
"We'll demonstrate to the world the United States is not only back at
the table but hopefully leading by the power of our example," he said.
"I know it hasn’t been the case, and that's why my administration is
working overtime to show that our climate commitment is action, not
words."
Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris climate accord, dealing
a blow to international efforts on the subject while he was in office.
Biden rejoined when he became president.
"I guess I shouldn't apologize, but I do apologize for the fact the
United States, in the last administration, pulled out of the Paris
accords," Biden said at a separate COP26 event.
As Biden was meeting with world leaders in Scotland, moderate Democratic
Senator Joe Manchin announced he would not yet support a $1.75 trillion
legislative framework that is central to achieving the president's
emissions reduction goals.
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President Joe Biden and U.S. Climate Adviser John Kerry attend an
event on action and solidarity at the UN Climate Change Conference
(COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, November 1, 2021.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/Pool
National Climate Adviser Gina McCarthy said ahead of
Biden's arrival in Glasgow that the bill would unleash $555 billion
in climate spending, the largest investment to combat global warming
in U.S. history, and allow the country to reduce emissions well over
a gigaton or a billion metric tons by 2030.
Biden announced a long-term strategy laying out how the United
States would achieve a longer-term goal of net-zero emissions by
2050.
In his COP26 speech, Biden said the world needed to help developing
nations in the climate fight.
"Right now we're still falling short," he said.
Biden plans to work with the U.S. Congress to launch a $3 billion
program in 2024 aimed at helping developing countries adapt to and
manage the impacts of climate change through locally led measures.
In a conference call with reporters, McCarthy also addressed
concerns around a Supreme Court announcement late on Friday that it
would review the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to
regulate greenhouse gas emissions, potentially undermining U.S.
climate goals.
"We're confident that the Supreme Court will confirm what those have
before them, which is EPA has not just the right but the authority
and responsibility to keep our families and communities safe from
pollution," McCarthy said.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason in Glasgow and Valerie Volcovici in
Washington; Additional reporting by Doina Chiacu in
WashingtonEditing by Diane Craft and Matthew Lewis)
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