The Washington PostDemocracy Dies in Darkness
President Biden on April 22, emphasized the economic benefits of fighting climate change during the first day of his administration's global climate summit. (Video: The Washington Post)

Biden pledges international finance plan as he presides over virtual global climate summit

April 22, 2021 at 9:51 p.m. EDT

President Biden said Thursday that he would launch an international climate finance plan to help underwrite the transition to a decarbonized global economy as he presided over a virtual summit of world leaders and called combating climate change “a moral imperative.”

As Biden watched from the East Room of the White House, a parade of heads of government appeared virtually, many of them making new pledges to cut emissions and thanking him for taking a leadership role on the issue.  

Here’s what to know:

Skip to end of carousel
Biden committed the United States to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions as much as 52 percent by the end of this decade.
Global carbon emissions are expected to surge this year as parts of the world begin to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg took U.S. lawmakers to task for their inaction on climate change, warning them that it will be her generation that decides their legacy.

1/4

End of carousel
Loading...