President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will take office tomorrow. They will take on their roles, as the country continues to reel from the global health pandemic, with over 400,000 lives lost in the United States alone. They will also face the ongoing challenges of overcoming racial injustice and the global climate crisis. Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute.
Climate, Energy & Transport
One of the first actions that President Biden has taken is initiating the United States’ re-entry to the Paris Agreement on climate change. The formal process to re-join the agreement takes 30 days. Under the Paris Agreement, countries are expected to submit a new or updated national climate target (NDC) ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, UK in November 2021. So far, 71 countries, representing 28% of global greenhouse gas emissions, have submitted a new or updated NDC. Following is a statement from Helen Mountford, Vice President, Climate and Economics, World Resources Institute.
Join WRI’s pre-inaugural press call on Friday, January 15 at 12:45pm EST to hear from leading experts on U.S. and international climate policy on a new era of climate action under President Biden and a Democratic-led U.S. Senate. We will provide ample time for questions on a wide range of topics, including executive action, federal legislation, COVID-19 recovery, the Paris Agreement, sustainable transport, clean electricity standards and more.
Today the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Storing CO2 and Lowering Emissions (SCALE) Act. Following is a statement from Christina DeConcini, Director of Government Affairs, World Resources Institute.
The Climate Ambition Summit held today offered an opportunity for the world to reflect on the state of climate action five years since the Paris Agreement was adopted and showcase how that governments, businesses, investors and others are stepping up climate action in the lead up to the COP26 summit in Glasgow next year. Announcements included new national climate commitments from China, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Colombia, Argentina and many smaller countries, as well as new pledges from businesses, cities and others to pursue a net-zero future. Following is a statement from Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute.
In a speech at the Climate Ambition Summit today, Chinese President Xi Jingping committed to a number of new climate targets. China will lower carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 65% from 2005 levels, increase the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to around 25% by 2030, increase forest stock by 6 billion cubic meters above 2005 levels and bring the total installed capacity of wind and solar power to over 1,200 GW by 2030. Following is a statement from Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, World Resources Institute.
Today the European Council endorsed a target for the European Union to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at least 55% by 2030 below 1990 levels and committed to updating its climate and energy policy framework to achieve this objective. The target will be reflected in the EU’s new climate commitment under the Paris Agreement.
Just ahead of the five-year anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement’s adoption, national climate commitments are being put forward by several Heads of State and governments around the world, including Brazil, which just announced its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Brazil’s updated NDC includes a target to reduce emissions 43% by 2030 from 2005 levels, which is the same that was submitted in 2015 as an indicative target. The national climate commitment also announces an indicative objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2060. Following is a statement from Carolina Genin, Climate Director at WRI Brasil.
Statement from Dr. Andrew Steer, following the UK's announcement that it will cut its greenhouse gas emissions at least 68% by 2030 below 1990 levels.
During this December 9th press call, climate policy and business experts will share their perspectives on the Paris Agreement and expectations for the Climate Ambition Summit. They will also discuss international dynamics, the role of major economies, and how the incoming Biden-Harris administration can shape future climate action.