United States: back in the race against global warming.

“ We simply cannot afford another decade of deliberation in the face of the prospect of an apocalyptic future . " Even if we did everything we promised to do in Paris, the temperature of the Earth would still rise by about 3.7 degrees and we are not even doing it ."

The first statement is from Mr Alok Sharma, the president of COP26 , and the second is from Mr John Kerry, US envoy for climate affairs.

It is in this context of urgency that Mr. John Kerry made his trips on Wednesday to present the new plan of the Biden administration. The new American President had promised to take the opposite view of his predecessor. He had made the return of his country to the Paris Agreement a campaign promise. Promise he keeps and it is John Kerry, who is in charge of unveiling strong measures.

During his speech in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, President Biden unveiled a plan worth 2,000 billion dollars which will be devoted to the economic recovery of his country, to the renovation of infrastructures as well as to the fight against global warming. "It's bold! And we can do it!" , he declared with determination.

The urgent and alarmist nature of the declarations of John Kerry and Alok Sharma echo the "rant" of Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations. Indeed, two months ago, we reported in our article dated February 27, 2021 - The UN sees red - the concern and disappointment of the Secretary-General by noting the poor results of the countries signatory to the Paris Agreement. in their efforts to put into practice measures to contain the rise in temperatures.

For their part, the United States intend to play a major role this time around. Mr Kerry has promised that the commitments will be ambitious. " In a few weeks, at our summit, we will be announcing our NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) and it will be robust," Kerry assured at the meeting, Net Zero Summit, organized by the International Development Agency. energy (IEA) and the presidency of COP26.

Without a doubt, the next environmental summit that Joe Biden is preparing on April 22 in the United States, pending the 26th UN climate conference (COP26) to be held in Glasgow in November, will take place under the umbrella of the determination to strike hard and fast. John Kerry is already setting the tone and the measure: " We are going to reduce our emissions, we are going to accelerate in a very significant way, so these are not just fine words from the United States" he warned.

Here is a speech which should reassure Mr. Guterres. The Biden / Kerry couple could provide a new and salutary impetus in the commitment of nations to do more. John Kerry even urged countries " to do a lot more" by displaying his concern: " if you look at the curve that we are on, we are actually heading towards more than 4 degrees of warming."

In the background, we perceive the message that is partly hidden behind this mega-plan and we clearly find the natural inclination of the United States to want to take leadership in many areas. Each era has its geopolitical rivalry. The cold war is over. Russia has given way. And even if China has announced that it is 10 years late since it plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, Joe Biden's 2,000 billion are there to show Beijing that, both in economic and climate matters, the fight will be rough.

But after all, it doesn't matter if, in this case, it is the climate that emerges as the winner.