President Biden is holding a climate summit for Earth Day and has invited many of the world’s top leaders, according to Scientific American. A total of 40 world officials are in attendance, and many have already committed to achieve carbon neutrality in their countries by 2050, though China’s government said it will not be ready to achieve net-zero emissions before 2060.
“Meeting this moment is about more than preserving our planet,” Biden said, according to the Houston Chronicle. “It’s about providing a better future for all of us.”
Some developing countries want the U.S. to keep its pledge to the Green Climate Fund. Former President Obama pledged $3 billion to it; however, only $1 billion was actually distributed to the fund before the Trump administration halted the rest of the money from being given.
Biden also aims to cut fossil fuel emissions nationwide up to 52 percent by 2030. Japan announced today it has a new target of reducing emissions by 46 percent.
In addition, South Korea plans to no longer fund new coal-fired power plants. Climate envoy John Kerry said earlier this week that leaders really need to focus on fighting climate change this decade. He said if not enough is done by 2030, “those other things become impossible.”
Republican lawmakers argue that other countries need to match recent emissions reductions nationwide in order to prevent job losses in the United States. Officials in Biden’s administration are attempting to dismiss those claims. The summit was conducted via a telethon-style livestream to maintain social distancing.




