'Follow Me' Ignored by Biden: Xi Jinping, Modi, and Putin

No Announcement of Expanded Carbon Emission Reductions Contrary to US Demands at Climate Change Summit
Emphasis on Contributions from Advanced Countries Including the US
Allies Such as Korea, EU, and Japan Promise to Expand Reductions

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] China, India, and Russia poured cold water on the ambitious climate summit led by U.S. President Joe Biden. While many countries, including the U.S. and South Korea, significantly expanded their carbon emission reduction targets, the major carbon emitters China, India, and Russia did not retreat from their existing goals.

US President Joe Biden is watching the remarks of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Climate Change Summit on the 22nd.

The climate summit hosted by President Joe Biden on the 22nd (local time) was attended virtually by 40 world leaders who pledged their countries' efforts to reduce carbon emissions as well as international cooperation and collaboration.

Including President Moon Jae-in, 38 heads of state and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, President of the European Council, among others, received invitations totaling 40. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had been in conflict with the Biden administration since its inception, also delivered speeches via video conference.

The leaders reaffirmed the goal of achieving carbon neutrality with net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and reached a consensus to limit the global average temperature rise to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

President Biden energized the atmosphere by being the first to declare a 50-52% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels, but the positions of major carbon emitters China, India, and Russia that followed were different.

At the event, the U.S. allowed the leaders of China, India, and Russia to speak first. These countries are major carbon emitters.

Despite active inducement by the U.S., the second-largest carbon emitter, China, India, and Russia did not respond positively. Earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that since the U.S. accounts for 15% of global carbon emissions, the participation of other countries is essential.

China, the largest greenhouse gas emitter, and India and Russia, ranked third and fourth, mentioned joint cooperation at the meeting but did not present advanced new targets.

President Xi emphasized the urgency of addressing the climate crisis but reiterated his position to reduce carbon emissions by half by 2060 as expected.

President Putin stated, "Russia has reduced greenhouse gas emissions more than many other countries since 1990," and also mentioned that the U.S. was historically the largest emitter, emphasizing UN-led cooperation rather than focusing on specific countries.

The Washington Post evaluated that for President Biden, this summit would be the most serious test of cooperation on global warming amid clashes with hostile competitors like China and Russia over a wide range of issues.

The Wall Street Journal also noted that China and India are putting the Biden administration, which aims to lead climate change measures, in a difficult position. With populations exceeding one billion and reliance on coal, these two countries find it difficult to actively engage in climate change responses. India's carbon emission share, currently at 12%, is expected to rise to about 14% by 2030.

Some have pressured that developed countries should rather support developing countries in their climate change efforts.

President Xi argued, "Developed countries must make concrete efforts to enable developing countries to accelerate the transition to low carbon."

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanded that the U.S. and other developed countries fulfill their promises to disburse billions of dollars in funds to provide alternatives to coal power in low-income countries.

David Kabua, President of the Marshall Islands, threatened by sea-level rise due to global warming, also requested assistance from developed countries.

Developing countries are demanding billions of dollars in financial support to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. In this regard, President Biden announced that the U.S. will double its annual climate-related funding to developing countries by 2024.

South Korea, Japan, EU Expand Carbon Emission Targets in Response to U.S. Demands

Many leaders responded to the U.S. demands. Most of them are U.S. allies.

President Moon Jae-in stated, "South Korea will further raise its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and submit it to the UN within this year," and mentioned the policy to halt public financial support for overseas coal power projects to be newly pursued.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, announced that the EU will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The previous target was a 40% reduction. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared a 78% reduction in carbon emissions by 2035.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announced that Japan will significantly raise its 2030 greenhouse gas emission reduction target to 46% compared to 2013, up from the previous 26%. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also presented an enhanced target of 40-45% reduction compared to 2005.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro pledged to end illegal deforestation by 2030.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.