UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated on Thursday that the climate summit organized by U.S. President Joe Biden represents a "turning point" in the fight against global warming, despite acknowledging that "there is still a long way to go." The virtual climate summit kicked off in Washington, D.C., with participation from 40 world leaders.
Guterres commented that the "commitments and actions announced" by global leaders at the virtual summit provide a long-awaited boost to collective efforts to address the climate crisis ahead of the upcoming summit in November in Glasgow, Scotland. He particularly welcomed the enhanced goals for reducing greenhouse gases responsible for climate change, announced by the United States, Canada, and Japan, as well as the heightened ambitions from Brazil and South Korea. Guterres added that the summit shows there is a turning point in climate action, but emphasized that "there is still a long way to go" to avoid irreversible climate disaster, urging immediate reliance on the momentum created at this critical year.
In his opening speech coinciding with "Earth Day," President Biden committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by as much as 50% by the end of the decade (2030), warning that the cost of inaction on climate change is increasing. He stated that "no country will be safe from the impacts of climate change," pointing out that there are opportunities and potentials for achieving a more prosperous future. Biden called major economies worldwide to take action against climate change.
King Salman bin Abdulaziz called for increased international cooperation to address the challenges of climate change, asserting in his speech at the virtual climate summit that this is the comprehensive solution to face the crisis. He outlined that Saudi Arabia aims to produce 50% of its energy needs from clean energy projects by 2030. King Salman mentioned that under the "Vision 2030," the Kingdom has launched a series of strategies and legislations, such as the national environmental strategy and clean energy projects. He highlighted the "Saudi Green" and "Middle East Green" initiatives, announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, which aim to reduce carbon emissions in the region by over 10% of global contributions and to plant 50 billion trees in the area, in addition to several other significant initiatives.
Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that "climate change poses severe challenges to humanity and the international community," emphasizing the need to treat nature with respect and work to protect it. He called for adhering to "green development and sustainable governance to protect the environment," adding the necessity for social and economic justice. Xi urged compliance with international law and respect for international climate agreements, as well as assistance to developing countries for transition to a "green economy," noting that China aims to achieve carbon neutrality before 2030.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated that "climate change is a reality with negative impacts on the lives of all peoples," stating that "people feel the effects of climate change in their daily lives." He stressed the need for more global action to combat climate change. He mentioned that India will launch a Clean Energy Agenda in collaboration with President Biden, and that the country is striving to reach 450 megawatts of clean energy by 2050, calling for support for sustainable development transitions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his country’s commitment to international obligations concerning climate change, noting that "Moscow is taking active steps to reduce carbon emissions." He explained that "reducing emissions by 2050 will help decrease the global temperature," and that cutting methane emissions contributes to lowering the planet's temperature. He confirmed that Russia's economic development plans include a climate vision and that there are significant changes in Russian industries over the past two decades, with efforts to enhance infrastructure for hydrogen as an energy source.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted that "Germany has reduced carbon emissions by 40% compared to 2019, in addition to investing in renewable energy instead of coal," aiming to cut emissions by 55% by 2030. She noted that "Germany generated 46% of its electricity last year from renewable sources," emphasizing the importance of preserving biodiversity.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that "the international community must confront disasters caused by climate change and reduce deforestation," warning that "climate change has caused severe weather and drought in various countries." He added that "we are the first country to pass legislation aimed at reducing carbon emissions, with emissions reaching their lowest levels since the 19th century," and called for global scientific research to provide sustainable development technologies.
