Biden and world leaders try to hammer out next steps on climate

President Joe Biden delivers remarks to the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (Evan Vucci/AP)

US president Joe Biden tried to hammer out the world’s next steps against rapidly worsening climate change in a private, virtual session with a small group of other global leaders on Friday, and announced a new US-European pledge to cut climate-wrecking methane leaks.

Ever-grimmer findings from scientists this year that the world is nearing the point where the level of climate damage from burning oil, gas and coal becomes catastrophic and irreversible “represent a code red for humanity”, Mr Biden said at the session’s outset.