By Janet Ekstract
NEW YORK (TURKISH JOURNAL) – Climate change will be front and center on U.S. President Biden’s priority list with his invitation to 40 world leaders to the Leaders Summit on Climate to be hosted on April 22 and 23 livestreamed to the public. The summit’s emphasis will address the urgency of climate action and the economic benefits while the president’s invitation urges leaders to use the Summit as an opportunity to create a framework for their countries that will contribute to a stronger climate commitment.
This Summit is a key precursor to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November in Glasgow, Scotland whose primary aim is to unify efforts to maintain the goal of limiting planetary warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius to combat the worst impacts of climate change. The Summit will also feature examples to demonstrate that good paying jobs can result from enhanced climate ambition and how advanced innovative technologies can assist vulnerable countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The U.S.-led Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate will reconvene at the Summit, consisting of 17 nations responsible for close to 80 percent of global emissions and global GDP. President Biden also invited heads of other nations that are engaging in strong, climate leadership, are specifically vulnerable to climate impacts or are creating innovative paths to a net-zero economy. In addition, a small number of business and civil society leaders will participate in the Summit.
Immediately after Biden took office, one of the first things he did was to have the U.S. rejoin the Paris Agreement which the Trump administration withdrew from. It was on January 27 that the president announced he was planning an international climate summit to move forward in solidifying efforts to combat a burgeoning climate crisis. The U.S. will announce 2030 as the emissions target as its new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement at the Summit.
The Summit will include a number of key themes that include mobilizing public and private sector finance to drive the net-zero transition and to help vulnerable nations cope with climate impacts. Also, spearheading efforts of the major global economies to commit to a reduction in emissions to the 1.5 degree Celsius limit as outlined by the UN. To highlight the economic benefits of climate action ensuring all communities and workers benefit from a new, clean energy economy. To focus on transformational technologies to reduce emissions while building industries of the future. Most crucial, featuring sub-national and non-state actors committed to green recovery, an equitable vision for limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and who work closely with national governments to promote ambition and resilience. In addition, opportunities will be discussed around strengthening capacity to protect lives and livelihoods from climate change impact while addressing global security challenges imposed by climate change as well as the impact on readiness and the role nature-based solutions can play in achieving net-zero by 2050. Some of the world leaders the President invited to the Summit include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of the European Council, Charles Michel, President of the European Commission, the Chinese President and a host of other leaders including the prime ministers of Denmark and Bhutan.
