Biden’s UN Speech: Climate Claims Fall Short of Reality

In response to President Biden’s address to the UN General Assembly today, Allie Rosenbluth, U.S. Program Manager at Oil Change International, said: 

“During his address to the U.N. General Assembly, President Biden touted his climate accomplishments, ready to take his victory lap. But his term isn’t over yet — and there’s still much to be done to ensure the United States achieves its domestic and international climate goals.

“Biden said that the United States is now on track to halve emissions by 2030 and meet the Paris Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, that is not true. Biden presided over a historic oil and gas production expansion and our research shows that his administration’s energy policies fall short of U.S. climate goals of reducing emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030.

“Biden also praised his work to quadruple climate financing to the Global South, providing $11 billion this year. While any ramping up of climate finance is commendable, the United States is still missing the mark when it comes to paying its fair share to tackle the climate crisis.

“The consequences of U.S. fossil fuel production are felt across the world in devastating storms, fires, and droughts. As the world’s wealthiest country, largest producer and exporter of oil and gas, and biggest historical emitter, the United States has a moral and practical responsibility to finance a full, fast, funded, and fair phase-out of fossil fuels globally.

“What President Biden does in the last months of his administration will determine his climate legacy. The clock is ticking for the Biden administration and for our planet. It’s time for Biden to pay up and phase out fossil fuels.”