Biden to target 50%-52% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

President Biden will announce on Thursday that the United States is targeting a 50%-52% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 — a far-reaching goal that will require a significant overhaul to major sectors of the U.S. economy and Americans’ way of life.

Mr. Biden is announcing the pledge at a virtual climate summit of world leaders he’s hosting Thursday and Friday, coinciding with Earth Day on April 22.

The president has set broader goals of creating a net-zero emission power sector by 2035 and a fully net-zero emission economy by 2050.

“The United States is not going to wait, the costs of delay are too great, and our nation is resolved to act right now,” an administration official told reporters on a call previewing the announcement.

Another official said the target gives the United States “significant leverage” to prod other countries to set their own aggressive targets to cut emissions.

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“When we close this summit on Friday, we will [have] unmistakably communicated that the U.S. is back,” the official said.

The official said that with the U.S. commitment, plus new goals from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and Japan, countries accounting for more than half of the world’s economy are committed to emissions targets that will be required to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels — the ultimate aim of the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Mr. Biden made moves on his first day in office to get the U.S. back into the agreement.