Biden leads global pledge at conference to end deforestation, cut methane

President Biden on Tuesday led about half of the world’s countries in committing to stop deforestation and reduce methane emissions — seeking foreign policy wins at a climate conference in Scotland amid a stalled agenda at home.

More than 100 countries pledged to end deforestation by 2030 and more than 80 countries agreed to cut methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030.

But major countries sat out the methane pledge, including China, which is the world’s top methane emitter by far. Of the top six methane emitters, only the US signed on — with India, Indonesia, Iran and Australia also sitting it out.

The forestry pledge, meanwhile, featured countries that own more than 80 percent of the world’s forests and included Brazil, Russia, China and large African countries such as Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.