Yahoo Finance Biden’s climate summit: The list of who’s going (and who has yet to RSVP)
President Joe Biden has asked 40 world leaders to a virtual two-day summit to ramp up efforts in tackling the climate emergency, beginning on Earth Day, 22 April.
Invitations have gone out to leaders of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, which total about 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Nations on the frontlines of the climate crisis, already facing more extreme weather and rising sea levels, have also been invited along with a number of nations championing climate action.
The list includes Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a signal that the US is willing to put the climate crisis above even its most strained international relations. President Xi is expected to attend, according to a report, while Mr Putin remains a question mark.
For its part, the US is expected to announce a tougher 2030 emissions-reduction target ahead of the summit. The “nationally determined contribution” (NDC), as it’s known, is each nation’s short-term pledge on emissions and a required part of the Paris Agreement. The Biden administration has been urged by environmentalists and business leaders alike to slash admissions by at least half this decade.
The New York Times reported this week that ahead of the summit, the Biden administration was close to clinching tougher emissions reduction promises from Japan, South Korea and Canada. But deals had not yet been reached with China, India and Brazil who, along with the US, account for more than half of global emissions.
Some global leaders have publicly confirmed they will attend Mr Biden’s summit, seen as a key milestone ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, in Glasgow this November. The Independent has contacted representatives of others on the guest list.
Among those who have confirmed their attendance:
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Antigua and Barbuda
President Alberto Fernandez, Argentina
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh
President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil. He will attend the event, an embassy representative confirmed to The Independent
President Sebastián Piñera, Chile, was confirmed by his embassy to The Independent
President Xi Jinping, China. He is expected to attend, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday
President Iván Duque Márquez, Colombia, was confirmed by his embassy to The Independent. An official said they were “looking forward” to the event
President Félix Tshisekedi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He will attend the virtual event, his embassy confirmed
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Denmark, was confirmed by her embassy to The Independent
President Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission, will attend on Thursday, a spokesperson confirmed
President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Gabon
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India
President David Kabua, Republic of the Marshall Islands
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico
Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Norway. She will attend the summit on the second day focused on innovation, her embassy confirmed to The Independent
President Andrzej Duda, Poland
President Moon Jae-in, Republic of Korea
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain will be attending, according to his embassy
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, United Kingdom. The PM will be virtually attending and speaking at the summit, the British Consulate General confirmed to The Independent
Also on the list but yet to publicly confirm are:
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australia
Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Bhutan
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada
President Charles Michel, European Council
President Emmanuel Macron, France
Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany
President Joko Widodo, Indonesia
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel
Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Italy
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Jamaica
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Japan
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand
President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria
President Vladimir Putin, Russia
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa
President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄan, Turkey
President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates
President Nguyá» n Phú Trá»ng, Vietnam
This article is being updated
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