Biden sees China and Russia climate goals ‘disappointing’ | Abroad

The US president stressed that the 19 richest countries in the world and the European Union have also made progress “partly thanks to the resolve of the United States”. However, Biden said it is necessary to look at “what China isn’t doing, what Russia isn’t doing, and what Saudi Arabia isn’t doing.”

Although the world’s largest economies affirmed the goals of the Paris climate agreement and reached an agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, the final statement of the assembled heads of state disappointed climate activists. For example, no target date has been set for achieving carbon neutrality, nor for ending coal electricity generation.

In an earlier draft statement, G-20 heads of state committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. In the closing statement, it was mentioned again “by or around the middle of the century.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov defended Russia’s goal of being carbon neutral no later than 2060. “This is our calculated commitment and we are sticking to it,” Lavrov said. China has also confirmed the goal of increasing the country’s emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality only by 2060. India – the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China, the US and the European Union – has also refused to make promises of carbon neutrality and shifts responsibility to more prosperous nations.