World leaders eager to have the United States back as a global player tackling climate change are congratulating President-elect Joe Biden. Biden says cutting greenhouse gas emissions will be a top priority of his administration. And he says the U.S. will rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement on day one of his administration. StateImpact Pennsylvania’s Susan Phillips reports that’s a stark reversal from President Trump’s approach to climate change.
The landmark Paris Agreement set targets for countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of keeping average temperatures from rising more than two degrees celsius above pre-industrial levels. President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the global accord. Theresa Ribera is Spain’s environment minister. She called Biden’s commitment excellent news, especially for the least developed nations struggling with the impacts of intensified droughts, heat waves and floods.
“It’s also a very positive agenda in terms of values. I think that the American spirit to work, to defend, to invest, to make partnership with people that is suffering is important from the climate perspective,” said Ribera.
Biden also promised to step up the country’s commitment to cutting carbon emissions. His climate plan includes investments in renewable energy, cleaner cars and busses and energy efficient buildings.
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