CLIMATE change is an existential threat to human existence, Joe Biden has warned, as he insisted the COP26 summit in Glasgow must be the moment "we answer history's call".
Addressing the opening session of the global conference, the US President stressed there is "no more time to hang back or sit on the fence or argue among ourselves".
He said action by his administration would “demonstrate to the world that the US is not only back at the table but will hopefully lead by the power of our example”.
Mr Biden said: "This is the challenge of our collective lifetimes, an existential threat to human existence as we know it.
"And every day we delay, the cost of inaction increases.
"So let this be the moment that we answer history's call, here in Glasgow.
"Let this be the start of a decade of transformative action that preserves our planet and raises the quality of life for people everywhere.
"We can do this. We just have to make a choice to do it. So let's get to work.
“Those of us who are responsible for much of the deforestation and all the problems we have so far have an overwhelming obligation to nations who, in fact, are not there and have not done it.
“We have to help much more than we have thus far.”
The US President insisted climate change is not a "hypothetical threat”.
He said: “Glasgow must be the kick-off of a decade of ambition and innovation to preserve our shared future.
“Climate change is already ravaging the world. It’s not hypothetical. It’s not a hypothetical threat.
"It is destroying people’s lives and livelihoods, and doing it every single day.”
He added that the “eye of history” is upon the meeting.
Elsewhere, Mr Biden stressed the opportunities on offer from addressing climate change.
He said: “We know that none of us can escape the worse that’s yet to come if we fail to seize this moment.
“But, ladies and gentlemen, within the growing catastrophe I believe there’s an incredible opportunity, not just for the United States but for all of us.
“We’re standing at inflection point in world history.
“We have the ability to invest in ourselves and build an equitable clean energy future, and in the process create millions of good-paying jobs and opportunities around the world.”
He said it has “not been the case” that the US has been “at the table” of combating climate change.
Mr Biden told COP26 his administration would commit to meeting a goal of reducing US admissions by 50% to 52% below 2005 levels by 2030.
He said this would “demonstrate to the world that the US is not only back at the table but will hopefully lead by the power of our example”.
He added: “I know it hasn’t been the case and that’s why my administration is working overtime to show that our climate commitment is action and not words.”
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