President Biden spoke of the potential economic and standard of living benefits that could come as a result of addressing climate change, while saying that the world is at an inflection point when dealing with the situation.
The president delivered short remarks at an economic forum on energy and climate in which he called on the world to act fast.
I wanted to show that we are at an inflection point, and there s a real consensus, a real consensus that while the climate crisis poses an existential threat there is a silver lining, Biden said. The climate crisis offers real and amazing opportunities to create jobs and raise the standard of living for people around the world. Biden announced that he is planning seismic investments and to modernize our climate resilient infrastructure to build a clean-energy future, which creates millions of jobs and ushers in new industries of the future. Citing hurricanes, flooding, fires in regions across the globe, including temperatures of 118 degrees in the Arctic Circle, Biden warned against getting too close to a point of no return. He encouraged other countries to bring their highest possible ambitions to November's UN climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland; this event will also be known as COP 26 in the United States.
Those who have not yet done so, time is running out. Biden told this story.
As for American goals, Biden said the U.S. is committed to reduce greenhouse emissions between 50 and 52% below 2005 levels by 2030. He also said a goal for 2025 that electric vehicles would be carbon free and that by 2030 he thinks 50% of cars sold in the U.S. should be electric.
This will not only significantly reduce the rate of global warming, but it will also produce valuable side-benefits like improving public health and agriculture output, Biden said.
The president concluded by again encouraging others to join him in combating climate change.
"The time is now", he said.