Climate summit: 50% reduction not good enough or fair enough for US historic emissions
Date: 22 April 2021
Campaigns: Climate
Global Justice Now, an organising campaigning for climate justice, says low and middle income countries will have “a mountain to climb” to secure an equitable outcome at Biden’s climate summit, amid contributions from “US-based financiers and climate hypocrites like Johnson”
The group has welcomed the United States’ trying to show climate leadership again after four years “hurtling in the wrong direction” under Trump.
But campaigners have warned that, while halving emissions is better than the “piecemeal approach” under the Obama administration, it “simply isn’t good enough or fair enough” to make up for the country’s historic emissions.
Dorothy Guerrero, Head of Policy at Global Justice Now, said:
“It is a relief that the United States is back and trying to show climate leadership, after four years of hurtling in the wrong direction under President Trump. But what Biden is considering simply isn’t good enough or fair enough for a country that has been one of the single largest carbon emitters for over a century.
“Rich countries like the US and UK need to go far further and faster to make up for their historic planetary destruction. Pledging to halve emissions is better than the piecemeal approach seen under Obama, but is a long way from the 70 per cent reduction by 2030 needed for the US to cut its fair share.
“With a line-up of speakers from US-based financiers and climate hypocrites like Johnson, low and middle income countries will have a mountain to climb to secure an equitable outcome from this summit.”
Ends
Notes for editors
Global Justice Now is a democratic social justice organisation working as part of a global movement to challenge the powerful and create a more just and equal world. We mobilise people in the UK for change, and act in solidarity with those fighting injustice, particularly in the global south. https://www.globaljustice.org.uk
Media contact
Joe Karp-Sawey, Media Manager, Global Justice Now
Tel: 07711875345
[email protected]
Photo: Carlos Fyfe/White House