Climate crisis about the life of this planet, Biden tells summit

1. US President Joe Biden has addressed the UN's COP27 climate change summit in Egypt
2. He says the US is on track to meeting its emissions targets by 2030 and that the climate crisis is about "the very life of the planet"
3. Biden has pushed through sweeping green laws, but has not delivered the US's fair share of climate funding for poor countries
4. About 200 countries are negotiating next steps on cutting the emissions that cause global warming at the conference in Sharm el-Sheikh
5. The UN says progress on cutting emissions has been "woefully inadequate" since COP26 in Glasgow last year
6. The US and China are the world's two biggest greenhouse gas emitters, but talks between them have paused because of tensions over Taiwan
7. The planet has already warmed 1.1C since pre-industrial times and scientists say rises must be limited to 1.5C by 2100 to avoid the worst effects
8. But experts say if we carry on as we are, we're on track for an increase of about 2.7C

Thanks for joining us

We'll be pausing our live coverage of the COP27 climate summit soon. Here's a round-up of the main developments from Sharm el-Sheikh today:

• Friday was decarbonisation day at the conference - which is approaching the end of its first week - anticipation was high ahead of a whistle-stop visit by US President Joe Biden
• At last year’s COP26, almost 200 countries agreed to “keep 1.5C alive” – referring to a goal first set out in the Paris Agreement of 2015 to limit global warming to 1.5C compared to pre-industrial levels
• But a new report, the Global Carbon Project, suggests emissions of carbon dioxide are rising so quickly there is now a 50% chance the world will cross that crucial threshold soon
• Addressing delegates this afternoon, Biden apologised for the US pulling out of the Agreement while Donald Trump was president and said they are now on track to reach emissions-cutting targets, adding that every country needs to "step up"
• The climate crisis is about human, economic, environmental and national security and "the very life of the planet", he said, continuing his speech despite attempts by protesters to disrupt his address
• Earlier, the summit heard from Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, who "saluted" Biden for making climate change "part of his agenda" with his "groundbreaking" $369bn Inflation Reduction Act

• Fraught negotiations are expected to continue among 200 countries at the conference before it concludes on 18 November

Today's live page was brought to you by Sam Hancock, Jo Couzens, Anna Boyd and Marita Moloney. It was edited by Andrew Humphrey.

Lots of talk but what's being done?

We've heard from US President Joe Biden this afternoon, who talked a lot about what needs to be done to reduce emissions in order to limit global warming to 1.5C - but how far are we from that goal?

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How will the China/US relationship impact COP27?

Matt McGrath

Environment correspondent

There’s a real feeling here that the most important meeting to impact COP27 will take place in Bali and not in Sharm El-Sheikh.

That’s because President Biden is expected to have his first face to face meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 gathering in Bali early next week.

Relations between the two biggest carbon polluters are critical to global climate talks – both the Paris agreement and the Glasgow climate pact came about because the big two were working hand in glove.

However, the visit to Taiwan by Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi earlier this year has upset that delicate balance.

As a consequence, discussions on climate co-operation have been shelved.

Last year in Glasgow, the two superpowers agreed a joint plan to boost action on methane and the transition to clean energy.

There is hope that this critical connection can be revived.

US Special Envoy John Kerry and his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua have exchanged views during informal talks here in Egypt this week.

If things go well in Bali between the two leaders, it will have a positive influence here in the closing days of the conference.

BBC

Biden promises more money, but can he deliver?

Justin Rowlatt

Climate editor, Sharm el-Sheikh

Reuters

The climate crisis threatens the “very life of the planet”, President Biden warned, as he addressed the UN climate conference in Egypt.

He gave a long list of his administration’s achievements on climate, and the biggest round of applause came when he said the US would meet its promises on emissions reductions by 2030.

He made much of the sprawling Inflation Reduction Act passed which will release $369bn (£304bn) for climate action.

Former Vice President Al Gore told me that would be very hard for opponents to unravel because the tax benefits favour Republican areas.

But Biden looks set to lose control of the House of Representatives and might still lose the Senate too.

That will make it very hard for him to get new cash for climate action, particularly finance for other countries.

And there was new analysis this week on who is responsible for the missed target of $100bn a year of climate finance, promised by the developed world for developing nations.

The research found the US was $32bn (£27bn) short of its “fair share” based on its historic emissions.

The Office star announces name change to raise climate awareness

Actor Rainn Wilson says he has changed his name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Rising Sea Levels Wilson to raise awareness of the climate crisis.

The star of the US version of The Office made the announcement in a video posted on Twitter on Wednesday.

"Sorry to get so dark so quick," he said, adding: "What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic."

"I'm an Artic Risk name-changer which is going to be a game changer," he said.

Wilson said he had changed his name on Twitter, Instagram and even on his "fancy writing paper". It is not known if he has legally changed his name.

Protesters try to interrupt Biden speech

Reuters

Protesters stood up and held a sign during US President Joe Biden's speech at COP27.

Shouting could be heard in the room on the televised speech but Biden ploughed on.

It's reported security guards approached the group of protesters to remove their sign.

What did Joe Biden say at COP27?

Biden at COP27: Our mission is to avert climate catastrophe

US President Joe Biden has made a speech at the COP27 summit in Egypt. Here's a summary of what he said:

• Biden said the "very life of the planet" is at stake in the climate crisis and gave an assurance the US is "on track" to achieve its pledge of cutting emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030
• The US will do its part to avoid "a climate hell", he stated, citing a warning made by the UN secretary general earlier this week
• He said the war in Ukraine has made it more urgent than ever to double down on climate commitments, calling on every country to align with targets to limit global warming to 1.5C
• On the global methane pledge, Biden said more than 130 countries have now signed up, covering more than half the global methane emissions. He said cutting methane by 30% by at least 2030 is the best chance to keep within reach of the 1.5C target
• During Biden's 20 minute speech, a group of protesters, holding up a sign, tried to disrupt the president's address
• Biden will now depart for Cambodia after only a few hours at the climate summit which he missed this week due to the US midterms taking place at home

'Let's reach out and take the future in our hands'

Reuters

President Biden says he is optimistic about all the work that remains to be done, adding "we have to put down significant markers of progress".

The US has taken steps to meet its goals and has delivered on its promise of leadership and "more and more of the world is standing with us", he says.

"Yes, the challenges we face are great but our capacity is greater, we must never doubt that.

"So let's reach out and take the future in our hands and make the world we wish to see and we know we need, a planet preserved for generations to come... that's why we're here."

Ending his speech, he tells the audience: "Thank you and God bless you all."

Egypt to receive funds to transition to clean fuels

Reuters

President Biden says if companies can finance coal in developing countries "there's no reason why we can't finance clean energy in developing countries".

Much of the conversation around this COP summit has focused on poorer countries being the ones to suffer most from worsening climate change.

He gets a round of applause for his suggestion, before announcing a "$500m (£425m) package to finance and facilitate Egypt's transition to clean energy". Biden does so alongside the EU.

"If we're going to win this fight, every major emitter needs to align with the [fight to keep the world's temperature below] 1.5C," the US president says. He adds that countries can no longer plead ignorance.

'Healthy ecosystems at the heart of healthy economies'

Another gamechanger is conserving our natural environment, President Biden continues, citing the forests of the Congo basins in Africa, the Amazon basins in South America or forests in the US.

"We have to make clear that forests are more valuable when they're preserved than when they're destroyed," he says.

We're bringing together partners across the public and private sectors and the philanthropic sector to put healthy ecosystems at the heart of healthy economies."

Cutting methane is best chance of meeting 1.5C target, says Biden

Turning now to the Global Methane Pledge, Biden says more than 130 countries have now signed up, covering more than half the global methane emissions.

The initiative by the US and the EU aims to limit methane emissions by 30% compared with 2020 levels.

Biden tells the crowd at the COP27 summit that methane is "80 times more potent than carbon", and accounts for nearly half the net warming we're experiencing, so cutting methane by 30% by at least 2030 is our best chance of keeping within reach of the target to limit global warming to 1.5C.

Energy needs to be 'clean and diversified'

There's more from President Biden who, addressing the crowd as "folks", says he knows "it's been a difficult few years" - and that the "upheaval we're seeing all around the world can be draining".

He says Vladimir Putin's war on Ukraine is worsening food security and the world's economy.

But, Biden goes on, this means countries must "double down" on climate commitments. Only this can end the trend of nations using energy as a weapon, he says - something Putin has been accused of during the war.

True energy security is "clean and diversified", the US president says, adding: "We must write a better story for the world."

US on track to achieve Paris commitments, says Biden

The US is on track to meet its emissions targets by 2030, as set out in the Paris Agreement, Biden goes on to say.

"The sum total of the actions my administration is taking puts the United States on track to achieve our Paris Agreement goal of reducing emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030," he says.

Biden adds how he introduced the first piece of climate legislation in the US Senate in 1986 and states his "commitment to this issue has been unwavering".

"Today, thanks to the actions we have taken, I can stand here as president of the United States of America and say with confidence the US will meet our emissions targets by 2030" he says.

Biden adds that they are facing forward to avoid the "climate hell" the UN warned about this week, insisting: "We're not ignoring the harbingers that are already here."

Good climate policy is good economic policy - Biden

As the world's largest customer, with a budget of more than $650bn (£552bn) last year, the US government "is putting our money where our mouth is", promises Biden.

These critical steps are already locking in vital investment to US infrastructure, delivering lower costs for green energy, creating jobs and aiding environmental justice for communities, he adds.

"We're proving good climate policy is good economic policy," he insists.

Biden makes international help promise

Biden pledges that the US will help make a global "transition to a low carbon future" that's "more affordable for everyone".

He says he wants to excel in the fight against climate change "beyond our borders".

'Most important climate bill in the history of US'

President Biden goes on to discuss efforts made in the US to tackle climate change.

"This summer, US Congress passed the biggest, most important climate bill in the history of our country - the Inflation Reduction Act," he says.

While this legislation "included less than I asked for", Biden says the Act is still a significant support for clean energy initiatives in the US.

Among the measures included are offshore wind, solar energy, sustainable aviation fuel, cleaner industrial processes manufacturing and cleaner agriculture.

US wants to create cleaner, safer planet for all - Biden

The US is working to create a "cleaner, safer healthier planet for all of us", says Biden.

His administration has led with a bold agenda to address the climate crisis, rejoining the Paris Agreement and convening major climate summits, he says, to spur other countries on to raise their climate ambitions.

Biden adds that last year, at COP26 in Glasgow, the US helped deliver a critical commitment that he says will get two-thirds of the world's GDP on track.

Climate crisis about 'the very life of the planet'

President Biden moves on, saying those gathered in Egypt "see our mission" to avert climate disaster and create a clean economy.

He says this is not just important for the future, but in the eyes of history.

"Here in Africa, home to many nations considered the most vulnerable" to climate change and food security, Biden says, appealing directly to Egyptians.

The president also talks about the struggles for African farmers - as well as those around the world.

"The climate crisis is about human security, economic security, environmental security, national security and the very life of the planet," he says sternly.

Biden praises US government's climate tsar

President Biden begins his speech by briefly marking US Veterans Day, before going on to thank his "dear friend" John Kerry.

Kerry is the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. He gets a huge round of applause as Biden praises his "incredible progress on climate issues".

Now, Biden's listing some of the climate-related natural events we're seeing, including wildfires and flooding.

Biden begins speaking

Reuters

President Joe Biden is on the stage a little early and is now addressing delegates about the efforts undertaken by the United States to tackle climate change.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest from his speech, which you can also watch by clicking play at the top of this page.