Joe Biden: 'When I look at climate change I see jobs'

US president tells Cop26 of potential economic benefits from green recovery

US President Joe Biden speaks to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a meeting on the 'Build Back Better World', part of the World Leaders' Summit at Cop26. AFP

A giant model of the Earth is seen in a meeting hall of the summit. Reuters

US actor Leonardo DiCaprio attends the Cop26 summit. PA

Climate activists from the Red Rebel Brigade take part in a protest outside the offices of JP Morgan on Waterloo Street, Glasgow. PA

People wait outside the security gates to gain entrance to the venue on day three of the Cop26 summit. AP Photo

US President Joe Biden speaks at the Leaders' Action on Forests and Land-use event. PA

Police officers patrol the River Clyde, near the Scottish Event Campus. AFP

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos speaks. PA

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, speaks to a group before a meeting with Earthshot Prize winners and finalists at the Glasgow Science Centre. Getty Images

Prince William and US businessman Michael Bloomberg stand with Earthshot Prize winners and finalists. Getty Images

Delegates sit on the pavement as they wait for the queue at security to ease on day three of Cop26. Getty Images

Boris Johnson and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi bond at a meeting. AP Photo

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry arrives on stage to deliver a speech. AFP

A mural refers to the goal to limit global warming to a 1.5°C, in the summit venue. AP Photo

Police patrol outside the summit's venue. AP Photo

Simone Karipuna, from the Amazonian Brazilian indigenous community, takes a selfie photograph at the summit. AFP

Climate campaigners protest on the fringes of Cop26. AP Photo

Prince Charles speaks to worldwide indigenous leaders before the Action on Forests and Land Use event. Getty Images

US President Joe Biden has said that building up the world's climate infrastructure “can and should” drive a sustainable economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Addressing a side event on infrastructure development and climate action at Cop26 in Glasgow, Mr Biden said there was enormous economic potential in building a greener world while fighting global warming and leaving behind a more liveable planet.

“When I look at climate and dealing with climate change, I see jobs. Good jobs, economic development. That’s what I see,” he said on Tuesday.

“It can spur the creation of good jobs in the developing world just like it can in the developed world. Our global transition to a net-zero economy is predicated on 30 million new jobs worldwide by 2030.”

The International Energy Agency says the transition to net-zero could lead to 30 million jobs in the energy sector.

“This climate crisis is an enormous opportunity. It's about jobs, it's about building the industries of the future, it’s about making sure everyone shares the benefits of an equitable and sustainable green recovery,” Mr Biden said.

On Tuesday, the Biden administration was also announcing a plan to slash emissions of the greenhouse gas methane across the US, starting with oil and gas wells, pipelines and other infrastructure as part of its broader strategy to crack down on climate change.

At Cop26, Mr Biden also backed a major, multinational declaration to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030.

On Monday, he highlighted the urgency of the matter, calling for action now and without delay. He called for “a decade of transformative action” to preserve the planet and boost the quality of life for people everywhere.

But he also underlined the potential economic benefits, arguing: “Within the growing catastrophe I believe there's an incredible opportunity — not just for the United States, but for all of us.”

He said there was an opportunity “to invest in ourselves and build an equitable, clean-energy future and in the process create millions of good paying jobs and opportunities around the world".

He acknowledged that America and other developed nations bear much of the responsibility for climate change, and apologised for his predecessor Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.