About 40 leaders from all over the world gathered in local time yesterday (22nd) to cope with the global climate change crisis.
Leaders of major countries attended the Climate Summit led by US President Joe Biden and pledged their commitment to cooperation and cooperation at the international level as well as the efforts of individual countries.
On April 22, the meeting was invited by 40 people, including President Moon Jae-in, heads of 38 countries, European Commission Chairman Ursula Ponderaien, and Standing Chairman Charles Michele of the EU Summit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who have maintained conflicting relations since the inauguration of the Biden administration, also spoke by video.
Leaders reaffirmed their goal of achieving carbon neutrality with'zero' net carbon emissions by 2050, and formed a consensus that the global average temperature increase should be limited to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrialization.
There are several countries that have raised their carbon emission reduction targets by 2030.
President Biden referred to climate change as a "existential crisis in our time" and emphasized that the economic powers should fight climate change after proposing a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% compared to the 2005 level by 2030. .
This is almost twice the level of the goal proposed by the Barack Obama administration to cut 26-28% by 2025 at the time of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement, and was evaluated as reflecting the US' willingness to lead the way in encouraging international efforts.
Leaders of major countries responded to President Biden, who emphasized the US initiative in climate change, and presented drastic reduction targets.
In his speech, President Moon Jae-in said, "Korea will raise the national GHG reduction target in 2030 and submit it to the United Nations within this year."
Korea has submitted a goal to the United Nations last year to reduce Korea's greenhouse gas emissions by 24.4% compared to 2017 by 2030.
EU Commissioner Ponderaien said the EU will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% compared to 1990 by 2030.
Previously, a 40% reduction was the target.
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that he would reduce Japan's 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target by 46%, a significant increase from 2013 compared to the previous 26%, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also set a reinforced goal of 40-45% reduction compared to 2005. Presented.
Brazilian President Zaire Bolsonaro has said he will end illegal deforestation by 2030.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, "We are delighted to see the United States return to cooperate in climate politics," and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson responded, "I am so excited to announce that President Biden is overturning the plate."
The UK has said it will cut its carbon emissions by 78% by 2035.
On the other hand, China, which is the No. 1 greenhouse gas emitter, and India and Russia, which are the 3rd and 4th places, mentioned joint cooperation, but they did not come up with a new, advanced goal.
The United States is the second largest emitter.
President Xi expressed his willingness to cooperate with the United States, but he was only reminiscent of China's long-term goal of reaching the peak of carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
President Putin said, "Russia has reduced greenhouse gas emissions more than in 1990 compared to many other countries." .
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the execution of billions of dollars in funding that the United States and other wealthy nations have pledged to provide alternatives to coal power in low-income countries.
South African President Cyril Lamaposa also stressed the need for aid, saying that low-income countries are paying the price for carbon emissions created by rich countries.
The Washington Post said to President Biden that the summit would be the most serious test to cooperate in responding to global warming amid conflicting widespread issues with hostile rivals such as China and Russia.
The meeting was led by President Biden, who emphasized the leading role of the United States and global efforts to respond to climate change.
Former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Change Agreement, but Biden signed an executive order to rejoin the agreement on the first day of his inauguration in January.
This summit will be held for two days until the 23rd.
Based on the consensus formed at this summit, the Associated Press predicted that the 26th General Assembly of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled for November in the UK, will undergo the process of adopting new targets for the next 10 years.
(Photo = Getty Image Korea)