Biden in climate poll pitch

WILMINGTON: Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden has unveiled an ambitious $US2 trillion ($2.9 trillion) climate change plan that would revamp the US energy sector and seek to achieve carbon pollution-free power in just 15 years.

The clean energy proposal was fleshed out in a speech in Wilmington, Delaware, on Wednesday (AEST) as the White House hopeful drew a sharp contrast with President Donald Trump ahead of the November election by arguing fighting climate change would be a big job creator under a Biden administration.

“There is no more consequential challenge” today than climate change, Mr Biden said as he pledged to spend $US2 trillion over four years to promote his plan.

“Transforming the electrical sector to produce power without producing carbon pollution … will be the greatest spurring of job creation and economic competitiveness in the 21st century,” Mr Biden said.

“That’s why we’re going to achieve a carbon pollution-free electric sector by the year 2035.”

The plan appears to be part of a plan to win over progressive voters who might be wary of the former vice-president’s more centrist positions.

He said he would rejoin the Paris climate agreement that Mr Trump quit in 2017, fund the construction of 1.5 million new energy-efficient homes, upgrade appliance standards and boost renewable energy.

In response, Mr Trump was quick to accuse Mr Biden of launching a “hard-left crusade against American energy” and pushing a platform “that would demolish the US economy”.