Cop27 live updates: Joe Biden warns climate crisis existential threat to planet
US president unveils crackdown on methane, just as scientists warn avoiding disastrous climate change even harder
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US president Joe Biden has told world leaders the global climate crisis poses an existential threat to the planet and promised that the United States was doing its part to combat it.
The emergency is about human security and economic security, he said in an address to the Cop27 climate talks in Egypt, as he highlighted historic drought, wild fires, devastating storms, food insecurity and flooding, leaving people homeless.
And he pledged the US would meet its emissions targets by 2030.
His speech was intended to remind government representatives gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh to keep alive a goal of keeping the global average temperature rise within 1.5 Celsius to avert the worst impacts of planetary warming.
The president was briefly heckled by protesters during a pause in his speech.
He also announced a stepping-up of plans to help African nations adapt to the climate emergency.
His administration is ramping up efforts to cut methane emissions, targeting the oil and gas industry.
But scientists said that global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels were on track to rise around 1 per cent this year, warning this would make it harder for the world to avoid disastrous levels of climate change.
Watch: Doctors protest at climate summit
US backs ‘global shield’ for poorer countries
The US supports a global shield initiative, Joe Biden announced.
The insurance initiative would help communities in poor and vulnerable countries recover more quickly from climate disasters.
Critics say the initiative is rich countries’ latest attempt to avoid paying for climate damage by keeping the burden on individuals in poorer countries through insurance premiums.
The US is enhancing its support for regional risk insurance pools, including contributing $12m to the Africa Disaster Risk Financing Program.
Biden heckled during speech by protesters
President Biden was heckled towards the end of his climate speech.
A small group of protesters holding a banner were heard to make noise when he declared the US a ‘world leader’.
They were quickly escorted out of the hall and he continued to his address.
Watch: Biden heckled by protesters during speech
We’re working for planet for our children, says president
Young people would not allow world leaders to fail on the climate, Joe Biden said.
“Let’s reach out and take the future in our hands. A planet preserved, a more equitable, prosperous world for our children, that is why we are here, that is what we are working towards,” he told the summit.
“I’m confident we can do it. Thank you, and may God bless you all.”
US doubles pledge to adaptation fund
The US president announced his country was doubling its pledge to the adaptation fund, helping poorer nations adapt.
Mr Biden told delegates at the climate talks that his commitment on climate had been unwavering and his administration was “putting money where its mouth is on climate accountability”.
He added that good climate policy was good economic policy.
“I can stand here as president of the United States of America and say with confidence, the United States of America will meet our emissions targets by 2030.”
His speech was intended to remind government representatives to keep alive a goal of keeping the global average temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius to avert the worst impacts of planetary warming. It came even as a slew of crises - from a land war in Europe to rampant inflation - distract international focus.
“Against this backdrop, it’s more urgent than ever that we double down on our climate commitments. Russia’s war only enhances the urgency of the need to transition the world off its dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.
Climate crisis is ‘existential threat to the planet’ Biden says
Mr Biden told Cop27 the global climate crisis posed an existential threat to the planet.
“The climate crisis is about human security, economic security, environmental security, national security, and the very life of the planet,” the US president said.
He assured delegates the United States was meeting the challenge with urgency.
Joe Biden tells summit US will meet emissions target by 2030
Joe Biden told the summit that that the US would meet its emissions target by 2030 to do the country’s part in averting the “climate hell” the UN secretary-general warned of earlier this week:
Joe Biden tells Cop27 climate summit ‘US will meet emissions target by 2030’
Joe Biden is in Egypt to address the Cop27 summit about the US’s efforts to tackle climate change
Biden apologises for US exiting Paris deal under Donald Trump
US president Joe Biden has apologised to the Cop27 climate talks for the country having temporarily exited the Paris Agreement before he came to office.
Mr Biden warned delegates at the climate conference that the global climate crisis poses an existential threat to the planet.
“The climate crisis is about human security, economic security, environmental security, national security, and the very life of the planet,” he said.
He assured delegates the United States was meeting the challenge with urgency, before protesters briefly shouted as he paused.
His speech was intended to remind government representatives gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh to keep alive a goal to avert the worst impacts of planetary warming.
African oil pipeline sparks protests
East Africans demonstrated against a pipeline being built to take oil from a national park in Uganda more than 870 miles to a port in Tanzania for export.
The project will produce vast amounts of carbon dioxide, analysis has shown - more than 25 times the combined annual emissions of Uganda and Tanzania.
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