Pirate's Cove

Oh, and not just your money, but how the U.S. government will further control your life

Joe Biden to reveal US emissions pledge in key climate crisis moment

Joe Biden faces a key test of his commitment to climate action this week, when he sets out his core plans for tackling the climate crisis and calls on all of the world’s major economies to join him in bold action to slash greenhouse gas emissions in the next ten years.

The US president has made the climate emergency one of his administration’s top priorities, and stated that clean growth must be the route for the US to rebound from the coronavirus crisis.

Biden and his climate envoy, John Kerry, will host a virtual summit of 40 world leaders to discuss the climate crisis and seek new commitments from the world’s biggest carbon emitters to fulfil the 2015 Paris agreement.

I’m hoping it starts with Joe and John giving up their own use of fossil fuels and living the carbon neutral life. And requiring all who work directly for the White House to do so. Kamala, all the functionaries, department heads, all the elites. No more fossil fueled trips.

At the meeting, or shortly before, the US is expected to unveil its national plan for cutting greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 years. If the plan – which the Paris accord refers to as a nationally determined contribution or NDC – is bold enough, and other countries follow suit, the world has a chance of meeting the Paris goals and avoiding dangerous levels of heating. If not, it will face a deepening climate crisis as carbon emissions rebound from their lull during the pandemic.

Why is it necessary for the U.S. to be bold? All the other nations which were hot trot had their chance. And pretty much failed. Because they are all paying lip service. Because it is about the money and the authoritarianism.

Even more significant will be the world’s biggest emitter, China, which surprised other countries in September with a new target of reaching net zero emissions by 2060. It has not, however, submitted an NDC to date.

“If China says nothing, things are not going to go well,” said Paul Bledsoe, of the Progressive Policy Institute in Washington. “China is not doing the near-term things it needs to do if it is serious about net zero. They are building 150 new coal-fired power plants.” Beijing reiterated its intent to ensure its emissions peak by 2030 in its recent five-year plan, but analysts say that is far too late to put the world on a path to net zero, and many have called for a peak date of 2025.

We all know China won’t do a damned thing, yet, these idiots thing that them saying the right thing is a step forward

The US and China issued a joint statement on Saturday after Kerry’s visit to Shanghai in which they “committed to cooperating” on the pressing issue of climate change. Li Shuo, a senior Greenpeace climate adviser, welcomed the statement, which he described as being “as positive as the politics would allow”. He said it sent an unequivocal message that the two countries were prepared to work together on the issue. “Before the meetings in Shanghai this was not a message that we could assume,” he said.

If you believe them, you’re an idiot. Now we await what Joe will declare to comply with an agreement that was never agreed on by the elected lawmakers. Watch your wallets, and all you who vote for Joe, especially Republican #NeverTrumpers? Keep your yaps shut and pay up.