The virtual White House meeting coincides with President Biden’s expected promise to slash America’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030
(AP)
The world is marking Earth Day 2021 on Thursday, with US president Joe Biden leading a two-day climate summit that is set to include 40 leaders from countries which, collectively, account for 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
All of Mr Biden‘s invitees — including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro and Chinese president Xi Jinping, who gave a last-minute confirmation — will participate in the summit to discuss stronger climate actions. Other attendees include Boris Johnson, India’s Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia’s King Salman.
Mr Johnson is supposed to deliver the opening speech at the summit, with the UK hosting this year’s UN climate summit, and will be urging countries to match the UK’s target to deliver net-zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century to limit global warming.
Meanwhile, this year’s theme for Earth Day is “Restore Earth”, supported by three pillars – “restoration, mitigation and adaptation”, organisers say.
UN chief Antonio Guterres in a video message for International Earth Day said this year’s observation is taking place when the planet is at “a tipping point”.
“The Covid-19 pandemic is a chance to set the world on a cleaner, greener, more sustainable path”, he said.
Boris Johnson to warn world leaders not to throw away chance to protect the planet
Delivering the opening address at the Joe Biden hosted climate summit, prime minister Boris Johnson will warn world leaders not to “throw away the chance to preserve our planet”.
Unless they “get serious” now about global warming, the current generation of leaders will be remembered for failing to protect the Earth against rising temperatures, the prime minister will say.
Speaking days after he announced a new target of cutting carbon emissions by 78 per cent from 1990 levels by 2035, Mr Johnson will tell his counterparts that they need to commit to equally ambitious goals by the time of the Glasgow summit in order to limit warming to 1.5C.
Stuti Mishra22 April 2021 07:12
How much do you know about climate change?
All eyes this year will be on US president Joe Biden’s virtual world leaders summit from the White House, where he hopes to obtain bold new commitments from heads of state to ensure their nations are doing their utmost to uphold the terms of the Paris agreement and bring greenhouse gas emissions back down to manageable levels.
But how much do you know about Earth Day and the threat posed by climate change? Take our quiz below.
Stuti Mishra22 April 2021 06:54
Five ways to help save the planet
This year’s theme is “Restore Our Earth”, with participants urged to focus not only on how we can reduce our impact on the planet but also on how we might actively repair ecosystems.
Are you looking for ways to take part in Earth Day this year? Here, The Independent offers some ideas for tackling the climate and environmental crisis on 22 April — or any other day of the year.
Stuti Mishra22 April 2021 06:48
Welcome
Good morning and welcome toThe Independent’s live coverage of Earth Day 2021, where we’ll be keeping you informed of all the updates from Joe Biden’s virtual climate summit, as well as other news about climate action marking the day across the world.
Stuti Mishra22 April 2021 05:59
