Biden to pledge halving US emissions by 2030 at climate summit

by Argus News

Washington, April 22: US President Joe Biden will pledge on Thursday to cut US greenhouse gas emissions by half by the end of the decade compared to 2005 levels, officials said.

The promise will come at an online summit Biden is convening with 40 world leaders aimed at getting the major economies to set more ambitious carbon-slashing goals, the dpa news agency reported.

The two-day meeting, which opens later on Thursday, is seen as important preparation ahead of the next UN climate crisis conference, to be held in Glasgow in November.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will join the video conference, in what is seen as a goodwill gesture after a rocky start to Beijing's relationship with the new administration in the White House.

China is the world's biggest emitter of carbon dioxide gases, followed by the US, India and Russia, according to the International Energy Agency, a Paris-based group.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Xi would deliver an "important speech" to his counterparts.

Biden will announce his intention to cut emissions by between 50 per cent and 52 per cent at the economy-wide level, a White House statement said.

The pledge doubles the promise made by former President Barack Obama, but gives the current administration five more years to meet its goal.

In 2015, the US had committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 per cent by 2025, compared to 2005 levels, as a contribution to the global Paris Agreement.

One of Biden's first acts in office was to return his country to the 2015 climate accord, which his predecessor, Donald Trump, had pulled from.

The White House outlined several paths to help meet the 2030 goal, but offered few details. It said cutting tailpipe emissions, boosting vehicle efficiency standards, and investing in transportation infrastructure and new technologies would help get the US on track.

Another priority is to focus on heavy cuts to emissions of methane - a major contributor to global warming.

Biden had previously announced the goal of reaching "100 per cent carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035" and a net-zero US emissions economy by no later than 2050.

On Wednesday, the European Union officially committed to at least a 55-per-cent reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.

Britain, meanwhile, said this week it is aiming by 2035 to reduce emissions by at least 78 per cent below 1990 levels.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to expand further on his pledge at Thursday's event and urge other countries to use 2021 as a time to set their ambitious plans.

"If we actually want to stop climate change, then this must be the year in which we get serious about doing so. Because the 2020s will be remembered either as the decade in which world leaders united to turn the tide, or as a failure," Johnson is expected to say in a speech seen by dpa.

Other world leaders scheduled to participate at the summit include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide said on Thursday that his country will aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 46 per cent from the 2013 levels by 2030, according to broadcaster NHK.

Yoshihide also said that Japan wants to be carbon-neutral by 2050.

More than 120 countries have made net zero commitments to date, covering 65 per cent of global carbon emissions.

But scientists say the world is not collectively moving fast enough to avert the worst effects of climate change by keeping warming to below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

The World Meteorological Organization said in January that Earth is on pace for "a catastrophic temperature rise of 3 to 5-degree Celsius this century" unless urgent action is taken.
(IANS)

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IPL 2024: Rishabh Pant Set To Lead Delhi Capitals In Upcoming Season

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Dec 11: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is all set to return to action and will be leading the Delhi Capitals side in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, says a report.

The Delhi Capitals management officials have stated that Pant, currently undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, is expected to regain fitness by the end of February.

His active participation in IPL games will be contingent upon the clearance from the NCA managers.

"If he is not keeping, he will definitely be on the field and will lead the side," a franchise official stated as quoted by Cricbuzz.

According to team officials, Pant would concentrate on batting and fielding and will only take on wicket-keeping responsibilities if authorised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). This refutes earlier reports that the franchise might just use the 26-year-old as an Impact Player.

Earlier, Pant's return was confirmed by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who is DC's team director. "He's (Pant) good now. He will play in the IPL next season."

Read: Sports News

The Delhi Capitals, who placed ninth in the IPL points table in IPL 2023, faced the brunt of Pant's absence. To turn around their fortunes in the upcoming season, the Capitals are now depending on their inspirational leader. (IANS)

Miscreants Loot Rs 10.59 Lakhs From SBI ATM In Bhubaneswar

by Hemanta Pande

Bhubaneswar, Dec 11: Unidentified miscreants looted Rs 10.59 lakhs from a SBI ATM in the Old Town area of Bhubaneswar late on Sunday night. Based on a complaint lodged by the bank officials, the commissionerate police registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Prateek Singh along with personnel from the Shree Lingaraj Police Station and special squad officers reached the spot after being informed by the locals on Monday morning.

Police sources said that the robbers cut into the machine with a gas cutter and decamped with Rs 10.59 lakhs taken from the ATM. They had first sprayed black colour on the CCTV installed at the kiosk before committing the crime to avoid being identified.

A SBI official said the bank came to know about the incident following the receipt of a mail about the malfunctioning of the machine. Later, the bank sent its maintenance staff to repair the machine and found out about the robbery.

“We received a report in the morning that some miscreants looted cash from an ATM machine in the Old Town area. A Shree Lingaraj police team, special squad officers are present at the spot and are trying to find clues about the robbery. The miscreants committed the crime late at night and they also sprayed black colour on the cameras and lights placed at the kiosk. We suspect the involvement of a gang having expertise in such a type of crime. It has been ascertained prima facie that the ATM kiosk lacked the required security measures and the alarm system was also not working properly,” said DCP Singh.

Read: Odisha News

Singh said the police will also investigate why the security agencies had not taken the necessary precautions regarding the lapses in the security arrangements at the ATM machine. (IANS)

PM Modi Launches ‘Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice Of Youth’; Pradhan Calls It A 'Red Letter Day'

by Hemanta Pande

New Delhi, Dec 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched the ‘Viksit Bharat@2047 - Voice of Youth’ and also addressed the Vice Chancellors and Heads of other Higher Education Institutes including students across the nation via video conferencing.

Speaking on the occasion PM Modi urged everyone to go beyond their limits to contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. He suggested running special campaigns in every college and university in the country to connect more and more youth with this campaign.

Union Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan pronounced the day to be a red-letter day towards inspiring action for achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat.

Today, 11th December, will be a red-letter day towards inspiring action towards achieving the goals of #ViksitBharat.

Launch of “Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth” mega campaign by Hon. PM @narendramodi ji is going to transform the #AmritKaalVimarsh into a jan-andolan.… pic.twitter.com/HlBtgb2gg5 — Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) December 11, 2023

Minister Pradhan expressed his gratitude to PM Modi for launching the initiative “Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth”. He stressed in the words of the Prime Minister, that the roadmap of progress will be decided by the country and not by the government.

Pradhan also said that this initiative is going to transform the Amrit Kaal Vimarsh into a jan-andolan and thanked the Prime Minister for continuously guiding and connecting the Yuva Shakti and the education fraternity to the grand vision of a developed India by 2047.

The Union Education Minister further said that universities, colleges and educational institutions will add new momentum to this initiative. Guided by the mantra of Sabka Prayas, an environment must be created that inspires the Amrit Peedhi and citizens towards the accomplishment of the goal of developed India, he added.

Also Read: India In Phase To Take Quantum Jump For Becoming Developed: PM while launching 'Viksit Bharat @2047'

Viksit Bharat @2047 is the vision to make India a developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of independence. The vision encompasses various aspects of development, including economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, and good governance.

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Biden to pledge halving US emissions by 2030 at climate summit

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