President Biden delivered his first UNGA speech at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as US President and pushed for a unified response to major issues, including climate change.
In his speech, Biden proclaimed a "new era of diplomacy" and announced his readiness to strengthen international cooperation.
“We’ve ended 20 years of conflict in Afghanistan. And as we close this period of relentless war, we’re opening a new era of relentless diplomacy; of using the power of our development aid to invest in new ways of lifting people up around the world; of renewing and defending democracy; of proving that no matter how challenging or how complex the problems we’re going to face, government by and for the people is still the best way to deliver for all of our people,” he told.
In his address to the UNGA, Biden directed the world’s attention toward climate change, emerging technologies, trade and economics, investments in clean infrastructure, and counterterrorism.
Conflict in the Middle East
Touching upon the Middle East conflict, Biden said that the "best way" to solve the Israeli-Palestinian problem is to create two different states
“I continue to believe that a two-state solution is the best way to ensure Israel — Israel’s future as a Jewish, democratic state living in peace alongside a viable, sovereign, and democratic Palestinian state. We’re a long way from that goal at this moment, but we must never allow ourselves to give up on the possibility of progress,” Biden stated.
He also assured that U.S. commitment to Israel’s security is without question as well as support for an independent, Jewish state is unequivocal.
Climate change
Biden devoted a significant part of his speech to climate protection.
The American leader appealed to the UN delegates from around the world to unite in solving the problem of climate change.
Biden stated that the U.S. is working on further critical rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement with a new ambitious new goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the United States by 50 to 52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
“And my administration is working closely with our Congress to make the critical investments in green infrastructure and electric vehicles that will help us lock in progress at home toward our climate goals. And the best part is: Making these ambitious investments isn’t just good climate policy, it’s a chance for each of our countries to invest in ourselves and our own future,” Biden stated.
In addition, the U.S. President announced Washington's readiness to double American public international financing to help developing nations tackle the climate crisis.
Coronavirus
The U.S. will make further commitments, which will be announced on September 22 at the online U.S.-hosted Global 19 — COVID-19 Summit.
“I’ll be announcing additional commitments as we seek to advance the fight against COVID-19 and hold ourselves accountable around specific targets on three key challenges: saving lives now, vaccinating the world, and building back better,” Biden stated.
He also expressed confidence that the world will be prepared to the next pandemic.
“We must choose to do more than we think we can do alone so that we accomplish what we must, together: ending this pandemic and making sure we’re better prepared for the next one; staving off climactic climate change and increasing our resilience to the impacts we already are seeing; ensuring a future where technologies are a vital tool to solving human challenges and empowering human potential, not a source of greater strife and repression,” Biden stressed.