Remarks: Joe Biden Attends a COP26 Global Methane Pledge Meeting in Glasgow - November 2, 2021


Joe Biden Attends a COP26 Global Methane Pledge Meeting in Glasgow [2021-11-02]
Joe Biden
United States
asthma
1.5 degrees
Environmental Protection Agency
30 percent

Joe Biden
00:00:00 - 00:00:06 ()
Well, it's very easy to follow Ursula. I think she says it all well the first time.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:00:06 - 00:00:19 ()
Look, I'm going to be very, very brief. I want to thank Ursula. And thank you so much to everyone here today, you know, for signing this game-changing commitment.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:00:19 - 00:00:38 ()
One of the most important things we can do -- and I keep referring, as many of you do, to this decisive decade. We've got to figure what we're going to do. It's not just between now and 2050. What we're going to do between now and 2030 is going to impact significantly what we'll -- whether we'll be able to meet our longer-term commitment.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:00:38 - 00:00:48 ()
And one of the most important things we can do in this decisive decade is -- to keep 1.5 degrees in reach -- is reduce our methane emissions as quickly as possible.
Slightly Positive
Joe Biden
00:00:48 - 00:01:00 ()
As has already been stated, it's one of the most potent greenhouse gases there is. It amounts to about half -- half the warming we're experiencing today -- just the methane exposure.
Leans Positive
Joe Biden
00:01:00 - 00:01:10 ()
So, together, we're committing to collectively reduce our methane by 30 percent by 2030. And I think we can probably go beyond that.
Leans Positive
Joe Biden
00:01:10 - 00:01:34 ()
We just announced this package at the General Assembly back in September. At the time, it was mentioned, nine countries had signed on. Today, it's over 80; it's approaching 100 countries that are signing on. That's nearly half the global methane -- methane emissions -- or 70 percent of the global GDP.
Unknown
Joe Biden
00:01:34 - 00:02:10 ()
And it's not -- this is going to make a huge difference. And not just when it comes to fighting climate change, as Ursula pointed out -- the physical health of individuals and a whole range of other things. It's going to improve health, reduce asthma, respiratory-related emergencies. It's going to improve the food supply as well by cutting crop losses and related ground-level pollution. And it's going to boost our economies, saving companies money, reducing methane leaks, capturing methane to turn it into new revenue streams, as well as creating good-paying union jobs for our workers.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:02:10 - 00:02:27 ()
And we're taking -- and we're talking jobs to manufacture new technologies for methane detection; jobs for union pipefitters and welders to go out and cap abandoned oil wells and plug leaking pipelines, which there's thousands of miles of those.
Slightly Negative
Joe Biden
00:02:27 - 00:02:42 ()
And it has been a foundation -- the foundational commitment of my administration from the beginning. It's something that we -- I campaigned on. And today, I'm announcing the next steps to reduce U.S. methane emissions.
Somewhat Positive
Joe Biden
00:02:42 - 00:03:02 ()
We're proposing two new rules. One through our Environmental Protection Agency that is going to reduce methane losses from new and existing oil and gas pipelines. And one through the Department of Transportation to reduce wasteful and potential dangerous leaks from natural gas pipelines. They have authority over that area.
Negative
Joe Biden
00:03:02 - 00:03:16 ()
We're also launching new initiatives to work with our farmers and our ranchers to introduce climate-smart agriculture practices and reduce methane on farms, which is a significant source as well.
Positive
Joe Biden
00:03:16 - 00:03:31 ()
And this is all part of our new methane strategy, which focuses on reducing the largest source of methane emissions while putting thousands -- thousands -- of skilled workers on the job all across the United States and, I expect, in your countries as well.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:03:31 - 00:03:51 ()
So, let me close again by reiterating this isn't just something we have to do to protect our environment and our future, it's an enormous opportunity -- enormous opportunity for all of us, all of our nations to create jobs and make meeting climate goals a core part of our global economic recovery as well.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:03:51 - 00:04:02 ()
The United States is eager to work with each of you to make sure we meet this goal and encourage more countries -- more countries -- to join us in committing to reducing methane globally, because there are more that can join and should.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:04:02 - 00:04:11 ()
So, I want to thank you again. Much more to say, but much of it has already been said. But thank you for your partnership. Thank you for your ambition.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:04:11 - 00:04:16 ()
And now I'm going to turn it back to Secretary Kerry, I believe. He's still here? There he is.
Unknown
Joe Biden
00:04:16 - 00:04:22 ()
And I thank you all so very much. [Applause]
Somewhat Positive