Page 12 - aruba-today DEC 14 2020

A12 SCIENCE
Monday 14 deceMber 2020
As leaders set fresh climate goals, Biden pledges U.S. support

from 40% to at least 55%
compared with 1990 levels
was broadly welcomed,
though activists said it
could have aimed even
higher.
China, the world's big-
gest emitter, also surprised
the world in September
by announcing a net zero
target of 2060, with emis-
sions peaking by 2030. In
his speech Saturday, Chi-
nese President Xi Jinping
provided further details on
his country's medium-term
goal for improving energy
efficiency and ramping up
electricity generated from
renewable sources of pow-
er such as wind and solar.
But Xi also cautioned that
"unilateralism will lead us
nowhere" — a veiled ref-
erence to discussions in
the EU to impose tariffs on
goods imported from coun-
tries that have less stringent
emissions standards than
the 27-nation bloc. The is-
sue is likely to dominate
In this Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020 file photo, the sun rises amid smog during the dry season in Mexico City.
Associated Press discussion between China,
the EU and the U.S. in com-
ing years.
By FRANK JORDANS and the world. "If we don't change course, portunity to create jobs and The Maldives, an Indian
JEFF SCHAEFFER "The United States will re- we may be headed for a prosperity at home and ex- Ocean nation made up of
Associated Press join the Paris Agreement on catastrophic temperature port clean American-made low-lying islands that are
PARIS (AP) — U.S. President- day one of my presidency," rise of more than 3 degrees products around the world, particularly vulnerable to
elect Joe Biden pledged he said. "I'll immediately (Celsius) this century," U.N. harnessing our climate am- sea level rise, announced
Saturday to rejoin the Paris start working with my coun- Secretary-General Antonio bition in a way that is good Saturday that it will now
climate accord on the first terparts around the world Guterres said, urging world for American workers and aim to achieve net zero by
day of his presidency, as to do all that we possibly leaders to declare a "cli- the U.S. economy," he said. 2030, one of the most ambi-
world leaders staged a vir- can, including by conven- mate emergency." American representatives tious goals worldwide. Bhu-
tual gathering to celebrate ing the leaders of major The Paris agreement aims at the virtual meeting in- tan and Suriname claim to
the fifth anniversary of the economies for a climate to cap global warming at cluded Michigan Gov. have already achieved
international pact aimed summit within my first 100 well under 2 C (3.6 F), ide- Gretchen Whitmer, Gov. that goal.
at curbing global warming. days in office." ally no more than 1.5 C Charlie Baker of Massachu- The 189 countries that are
Heads of state and govern- Biden reiterated his cam- (2.7 F), by the end of the setts and U.S. business lead- party to the Paris agree-
ment from over 70 coun- paign pledge that his ad- century. Meeting the tem- ers, such as Apple chief ex- ment are required to sub-
tries took part in the event ministration will set a target perature target will require ecutive Tim Cook. mit their updated targets to
— hosted by Britain, France, of cutting U.S. emissions a phasing-out of fossil fuels Also absent from the event the United Nations by the
Italy, Chile and the United to net zero "no later than and better protection for were major economies end of the year. This would
Nations — to announce 2050." the world's carbon-soak- such as Australia, Brazil, In- normally have occurred
greater efforts in cutting Experts say commitments ing forests, wetlands and donesia, Mexico, Russia at the annual U.N. climate
the greenhouse gas emis- put forward by the inter- oceans. and Saudi Arabia. Most summit, but the event was
sions that fuel global warm- national community in the The U.N. chief called the have offered no significant postponed for a year be-
ing. past five years have al- announced U.S. return to improvements on their ex- cause of the pandemic.
The outgoing administra- ready improved the long- the Paris accord "a very im- isting emissions targets late- The gathering, now sched-
tion of President Donald term outlook on climate portant signal." ly. uled to take place in
Trump, who pulled Wash- change, making the worst- "We look forward for a very Environmental campaign- Glasgow, Scotland, in No-
ington out of the Paris ac- case scenarios less likely active U.S. leadership in cli- ers singled out Brazil's re- vember 2021, will see hag-
cord, wasn't represented by the end of the century. mate action from now on," cent announcement that it gling over financial support
at the online gathering. But wildfires in the Amazon, Guterres said. "The United will stick to its target of cut- for poor countries to cope
But in a written statement Australia and America, States is the largest econ- ting emissions by 43% over with climate change, and
sent shortly before it be- floods in Bangladesh and omy in the world, it's abso- the next decade com- fine-tuning the rules for in-
gan, Biden made clear East Africa, and record lutely essential for our goals pared with 2005 levels and ternational markets in emis-
the U.S. was waiting on temperatures in the Arc- to be reached." aim for net zero by 2060 — sions trading. Britain, next
the sidelines to join again tic have highlighted the Biden insisted that the later than most other coun- year's host, announced this
and noted that Washing- impact an increase of 1.2 dramatic economic shifts tries. month that it's aiming to
ton was key to negotiating degrees Celsius (2.2 Fahr- needed would be positive By contrast, an agreement cut emissions by 68% over
the 2015 agreement, which enheit) since pre-industrial for American workers. Friday by European Union the next decade and end
has since been ratified by times is already having on "We have before us an members to beef up the state support for fossil fuel
almost all countries around the planet. enormous economic op- continent's 2030 targets industry exports.q