In response to President Biden’s speech at COP26, Thomas Damassa, Oxfam America’s Associate Director for Climate Change, made the following statement:
“We welcome President Biden’s declaration at COP26 that the United States is back in the global fight against climate change. Setting a new pledge to reduce emissions by 2030, launching a global initiative to rapidly cut methane, and increasing financing for developing countries are a good start.
“However, more is needed to turn words into action. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, and as the largest historical emitter, the US must step up with bold climate action – promises and pledges are no longer enough. We urge the Biden Administration to do everything in its power to pursue more ambitious and just emissions reductions, further scale up of finance for adaptation, and address the climate impacts already devastating vulnerable communities across the world.
“In the following days at COP26, the US must work with other countries to secure a strong outcome that ratchets up emission reductions by major economies. Current pledges are still far below what is needed to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
“The US and other rich countries must also ramp up investments toward the $100 billion promised every year to help poorer nations adapt to climate change and reduce emissions, and set a new post-2025 climate finance goal. Additionally, rich countries must find a way forward to address climate impacts in vulnerable countries and establish a new funding mechanism for loss and damage.
“Back in Washington, the US must back up its global climate commitments with congressional action. Passing the Build Back Better plan offers an historic opportunity to invest in good green jobs and reduce emissions. But achieving emission reductions must go beyond investing in the green energy transition. The time has come to end the chokehold fossil fuels have on our economy by ending subsidies that allow fossil fuel companies to profit even more from climate destruction. Additionally, Congress must also make good on US global climate commitments by scaling up appropriations for international climate finance.
“We are seeing the devastating impacts of the climate crisis in the US and across the world, particularly on vulnerable communities. It is code red for humanity. Ambitious climate action cannot wait.”