Biden raises bar in climate f ight
As Biden hosts virtual event in return to the global fight, he plans to double target for emissions reduction.
As host, president kicks off a global summit by doubling U.S. emissions reduction goal.
WASHINGTON — President Biden will announce Thursday that he’s doubling the United States’ original commitment to slashing greenhouse gas emissions, making the country’s goal one of the most ambitious in the world as he hosts leaders from around the globe during a virtual summit on climate change.
President Obama had pledged to cut emissions by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025 when the Paris accord was signed more than five years ago. Biden will increase that target to 50% to 52% by 2030, a dramatic escalation that will require sweeping changes in how Americans power their vehicles, homes and factories if the U.S. is serious about fulfilling its promise.
“Here’s the bottom line. The United States is not going to wait,” said one of several administration officials who spoke to reporters Wednesday on condition of anonymity because they had not been authorized to officially discuss the summit. “The costs of delay are too great, and our nation is resolved to act right now.”
Exactly how Biden plans to put the U.S. on a trajectory to meet his goal remains unclear. Officials did not detail specific policies that they would implement or propose, and many ideas will probably face stiff resistance from Republicans and various industries that would be forced to overhaul their operations.
Biden will probably rely on cities and states to deliver some of the emissions reductions with their own policies. California has already set tougher limits on vehicle emissions, and Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an order requiring all new cars sold to be zero-emission vehicles by 2035.
One official emphasized that “achieving that target is something we can do in multiple ways,” from increasing the number of electric cars on the road to generating more electricity from the sun and wind.
Although Biden’s plans remain vague and fraught with political hurdles, the president hopes his declaration will demonstrate the country’s unequivocal return to the fight against climate change. His immediate predecessor, President Trump, had withdrawn from the Paris climate agreement and unraveled environmental regulations.
Biden also wants to use his new goal — among the most ambitious in the world, according to the Rhodium Group, an independent research organization — to urge his counterparts to increase their own commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Leaders of 40 countries — including China, Russia and India — accepted invitations to the summit, which is being held virtually because of the pandemic.
Biden administration officials said they hope some will announce more ambitious targets to provide momentum ahead of a planned United Nations conference in Scotland at the end of the year.
“Unless we get it right, and get it right pretty quickly,” the world will suffer even more dramatic effects of global warming, another one of the officials said.
Parts of Biden’s climate agenda were already included in his infrastructure and jobs proposal. Biden wants all electricity in the U.S. to come from carbonfree sources by 2035. Roughly half of the country’s power currently comes from sources that don’t generate greenhouse gases.