Biden to convene world leaders for climate forum this week

President Biden will virtually convene world leaders Friday in the hopes of raising climate ambitions ahead of a major United Nations conference.

The Biden administration announced Wednesday the president will reconvene the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (MEF) — an Obama-era forum meant to enhance dialogue between major economies on climate. 

A senior administration official told reporters that it would be a leader-level conference but declined to specify who the participants will be.

The Obama-era program included 17 major countries such as the U.S., the European Union, China, India and Australia. 

It was reported this week that the U.S. and European Union had agreed to cut their emissions by 30 percent, which could be announced in line with the forum. 

The senior official described the methane push as a “collective global goal” in a call with reporters. 

The official also said the leaders’ meeting will not be livestreamed and that it is about discussing what the major economies and emitters can do about climate change. 

This differs from a virtual White House event in April at which world leaders livestreamed speeches on climate change and some announced updated climate commitments. 

At the November U.N. conference, called known as COP26, countries will aim to boost actions moving toward the warming goals set out in the Paris climate agreement.