ENERGY BRIEFING: Biden Global Climate Debut Risks Falling Short

摘要

John Kerry has been flying around the world trying to get some of the biggest polluters to step up their fight against climate change in time for a White House summit on April 22. If new goals are the measure of success, the meeting is shaping up to be a disappointment. President Joe Biden's climate envoy this week touched down in Shanghai, China-the most high profile stop on a tour that's so far included India, the U.K., Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates. Later he'll travel to Seoul, South Korea. His mission is to reestablish America as a leader on global climate action after four years of backtracking under Donald Trump. That means setting an ambitious 2030 emissions reduction target and then cajoling others to strengthen their goals. Before the U.S. can lead, however, it will first have to overcome the world's mistrust. After all, the country's already reneged on its climate promises before. "They've clearly been looking to try to encourage other countries to also increase their ambition, but I don't think this is the date," said Pete Ogden, who served in the Obama administration and is now vice president for energy, climate and the environment at the United Nations Foundation. "I do not expect that everything will be on a glide path to 1.5 degrees," he said.