Biden vows to rejoin Paris accord asworld leaders meet

PARIS — President- elect Joe Biden pledged Saturday to rejoin the Paris climate accord on the first day of his presidency, as world leaders staged a virtual gathering to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the international pact aimed at curbing global warming.

Heads of state and government from more than 70 countries took part in the event — hosted by Britain, France, Italy, Chile and the United Nations — to announce greater efforts in cutting the greenhouse gas emissions that fuel global warming.

The outgoing administration of President Donald Trump, who pulled Washington out of the Paris accord, wasn’t represented at the online gathering.

In a written statement sent shortly before it began, Biden made clear the U.S. was waiting on the sidelines to join again and noted that Washington was key to negotiating the 2015 agreement, which has since been ratified by almost all countries around the world.

“The United States will rejoin the Paris agreement on Day 1 of my presidency,” he said. “I’ll immediately start working with my counterparts around the world to do all that we possibly can, including by convening the leaders of major economies for a climate summit within my first 100 days in office.”

Biden reiterated his campaign pledge that his administration will set a target of cutting U.S. emissions to net zero “no later than 2050.”

The Paris agreement aims to cap globalwarming atwell under 3.6 F, ideally no more than 2.7 F, by the end of the century.

Meeting the temperature target will require a phasing- out of fossil fuels and better protection for the world’s carbon-soaking forests, wetlands and oceans.

The U.N. chief called the announced U.S. return to the Paris accord “a very important signal.“

“We look forward for a very active U.S. leadership in climate action from now on,” SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said. “The United States is the largest economy in the world, it’s absolutely essential for our goals to be reached.”

American representatives at the virtual meeting included Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Gov. Charlie Baker of Massachusetts and U.S. business leaders, such as Apple chief executive Tim Cook.An agreement Friday by European Union members to beef up the continent’s 2030 targets from 40 percent to at least 55 percent compared with 1990 levels was broadly welcomed, though activists said it could have aimed even higher.

The 189 countries that are party to the Paris agreement are required to submit their updated targets to the United Nations by the end of the year.