Biden At COP26 Mocks Trump: Apologizes US In Last Administration Withdrew From Paris Deal
JAKARTA - President Joe Biden is trying to reassure world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP26) that the United States will fulfill its pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by half by the end of the decade.
Biden, who succeeded Donald Trump in January, pledged the United States would reduce 50-52 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2005 levels.
He wants to show the world that Washington can be trusted to fight global warming despite changes in policy between Republican and Democratic governments that have undermined past promises.
"We will show the world that the United States is not only returning to the negotiating table but hopefully can lead by the strength of our example," Biden said in a speech delivered at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, Monday 1 November local time as quoted by Antara.
Earlier, Trump withdrew the US from the Paris climate accord, hampering international efforts on the issue. The US has since rejoined the deal since Biden took office.
"I don't think I should apologize, but I apologize for the fact that the United States, in the last administration, withdrew from the Paris accord," Biden told COP26 separately.
As Biden met with world leaders in Scotland, moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announced that he would not yet support a $1.75 trillion legislative framework to achieve the president's emission reduction goals.
National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy said the bill would allocate $555 billion for climate programs.
The budget plan is the largest investment to combat global warming in US history and allows the country to reduce more than a gigaton of emissions by 2030.
Biden announced a long-term strategy outlining how the US will achieve its long-term goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
In his speech, Biden also said the world needs to help developing countries in the fight against climate change.
"Currently we still fail to meet expectations," he said.